Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Chris Quilpa

A new year has arrived! Let’s welcome 2022 with a sense of faith, hope, optimism, peace, and love.

Thank God, we’ve made it to this new year, despite all the crises, conflicts and challenges that have impacted us. We pray, God bless us with good health and economy, and many blessings and tidings to come before us.

Like any new year or past years, 2022 will certainly bring us many challenges that will impact our world. One is the ongoing global health crisis that has turned our world upside down.

We’ve had lockdowns and quarantines. We’ve overwhelmed our hospitals and healthcare professionals and workers, and scientists working 24/7 to create vaccines.

We’ve remembered, honored and mourned our losses. We’ve paid tribute to those who made a difference in our lives. We’ve taken steps and initiatives to be one with the rest of the world in combating climate change, global warming, environmental degradation, poverty, drug abuse/opioid epidemic, terrorism, lawlessness, violence, hatred, apathy, indifference, misinformation, and social and economic inequality.

We’ve celebrated our traditions and holidays, with cheers and charity but also with caution. We continue to be vigilant to protect and preserve our fragile democracy that can be in peril, possibly due to undesirable elements trying to undermine our democratic processes.

What comes to mind when a new year arrives in one’s life? A year older and wiser? A new year’s resolution or a goal to do something to improve one’s life? A promise to one’s self to stop undesirable behavior or traits and to continue good practices?

A tradition that has had religious origin (the Romans made promises to their god Janus at the beginning of a new year that they would return borrowed objects or tools or farm equipment and pay their debts), the concept of a new year’s resolution is basically and practically for one’s self-improvement.

There are folks out there who resolve to try to quit smoking, to stop being a pain … or to just quit complaining or whining and be a team player, a good employee or a respected leader. There are politicians who promise to be more responsive to the needs of their constituents. There are government officials who resolve to be the best leaders they can be.

Personally, I have made new year’s resolutions in past years. I resolved to be the best that I can be at work and at home with my family. I have made promises to be the best husband to my wife and best dad to my two children. I have resolved to change my old habits that didn’t bring good results. I’ve promised to myself to be a good Christian, trying to do God’s will and be of service to others, sharing what I have to help make a difference in the world.

Why not try making a resolution again this year? After all, it’s up to you to do it for yourself. You love to tell others never to give up. Why not try it? See how it goes.

Wanna know my new year’s resolution this year? I resolve to read more, to watch more informative and educational YouTube videos; to pray more, especially with my family, because I do believe in what Father Patrick Peyton said that a family that prays together, stays together. I promise to stop procrastinating and finish a house project that I’ve planned months ago. I continue to be a good law-abiding citizen, and a good Christian. I promise to do more physical conditioning or exercise, to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and consume less processed food. I resolve to be more respectful, tolerant and understanding of all I interact with. Achievable goals? I believe so. For as long as we’re alive, nothing is impossible. With God’s help and guidance, we’ll make it.

How about you, folks? Have you already made your new year’s resolution? Or, you’re still undecided?

May God bless us all always. Have a blessed new year and beyond!

Chris A. Quilpa, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, lives in Suffolk, Portsmouth and Chesapeake. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com.