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THE SOLUTION IS RESOLUTION

30/12/2021 08:00:00 CHRIS MORGAN

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Enjoying words is an indulgence of mine. Not having words; that’s a different ballgame altogether. And some words just resonate, whatever that means. Take siSwati – for me there aren’t many words to beat ‘akunandzaba’, meaning ‘it doesn’t matter’. Does the meaning matter? LOL. In English, the word ‘absolutely’ is currently very popular because it simply bounces off the tongue. The word ‘unequivocally’ also appeals, though perhaps more when trying to get your tongue round it. In a more subtle sense, we have ‘resolution’, a word positively rippling with assonance, and especially relevant at this time of year; the traditional measure where you resolve to achieve a degree of self-improvement.

Exceptions

That’s the New Year’s Resolution. Not everyone commits to one, and there are also exceptions to the customary format. A popular one will be to get that top-of-the-range Merc or Beemer before the year is out. Not a resolution in the traditional sense, but, in this modern consumer-oriented world, it’s the kind of ‘resolution’ made as the new year approaches. Reverend David Gooday, a highly respected former agriculture educator, then farmer at Hawane, and now in his 80s, tirelessly devoting himself to the Christian faith, wrote a series of short books called Thoughts for the Week. In one of these he reflects on the Church Year and provides a fascinating set of thoughts for each of the weeks.You will see the weeks of Lent in the book, too late for the New Year’s Eve resolution, but nevertheless offering the opportunity for some retroactive adjustment after reflecting on one’s performance since the start of the new year. In that week, there is Shrove Tuesday to ‘shrive’ – that is, to confess one’s sins – while Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, recalls the use of ashes as a symbol of penitence.

Motivation

The essence of the New Year’s resolution should be the motivation and mantra-style reminder of a way, or even ways, of making yourself a better person. The objective is for the resolution to be good and possible and, above all, to make its adoption last longer than 10am on January 1. As we approach that first day of 2022, may I share a few of my favourites with you. What they do, somewhat paradoxically, is to place the emphasis on other people, rather than ourselves. In other words, what we can do with, and for, other people. There’s far too much self-centredness in society – one of the most prevailing characteristics to emerge after the dinosaurs handed the world over 65 million years ago (except that homo sapiens was not yet there to receive it). Committing to a valuable new year’s resolution is a solution, when seeking to enhance the quality of your own life; it works through improving the lives of others.

There are, of course, the popular resolutions that focus on food, work and exercise, but I would prefer to offer you three that are somewhat different; self-serving through serving others:
Treat everyone the same - It isn’t possible to adhere fully to this one, owing to work and social hierarchies. But generally speaking, there should be no distinction between people you meet, regardless of size, shape, beauty and wealth. In opening a door, sharing a funny story, enquiring about health and family, offering a ride home from work, you will show the same degree of interest and respect whoever the person is.
Smile a lot more - A smile costs nothing, but lightens up the life of the giver and receiver. It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give.
It brings cheer to the discouraged and sunshine to the sad. And it is increasingly argued, with scientific confirmation, that smiling releases endorphins, the feel-good cells, in the brain, giving you almost immediate pleasure. Smile and make people smile!
Do a good deed every day - This one’s as old as the hills. But it can be as rewarding to you, the giver, as to the recipient. Whoever you are, there is someone out there who is more needy than you.

Too often we walk or drive immersed in our own plans or problems, no longer alert to the needs of our fellow human beings. Find a poor family that needs food or decent clothes; be alert for the person waiting to use a zebra crossing, or a car waiting patiently to cross the line of traffic. Select one or adopt them all; your life will be better for it, guaranteed. Cementing the resolution(s) into your mind is essential so you are constantly reminding yourself of it. What better than a mnemonic (what’s that when it’s at home?) converting Treat, Smile and Deed into TRESMIDE. As long as you don’t expend all the effort memorising TRESMIDE and forget what it stands for. Happy New Year to everyone!