JILL: Dad, what is a New Year's
resolution?
THOMAS: It’s a secular tradition,
Jill, in which a person makes a promise to do an act of self-improvement or
something slightly nice.
JILL: It should begin from New
Year's Day.
THOMAS: Yes. Such belief trace back
from of old when people made promises to their gods at the start of each year
that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.
Jill: I heard
some resolutions include donation to the poor more often, to become more
assertive, or to become more environmentally responsible.
THOMAS: It makes them popular than
their goals though.
JILL: Or improve physical
well-being: eat healthy food, lose weight, exercise more, eat better, drink
less alcohol, quit smoking, stop biting nails, get rid of old bad habits
THOMAS: Don’t forget, to improve
mental well-being by thinking positive, laughing more often and enjoying life.
JILL: Nothing wrong with that, I
guess.
THOMAS: Most important, Jill, is to
be more closer to God and be more spiritual.
JILL: Some were only confident of
success at the beginning.
THOMAS: We should be determined when
we make a kind of resolution.
JILL: Since its our commitments.
THOMAS: But most of our resolutions
are in relation to physical things. This should not be.
JILL: Resolutions to pray more, to
read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly—these may be fantastic
goals.
THOMAS: We must have the proper
motivation for stopping or starting that activity.
JILL: Yes, Dad, I’ll remember that.
THOMAS: Ok.