My friend Billie has moved to/from more than one new city in her time. Here’s her lovely reflection on New Year’s resolutions.

The Original Resolution

I love the idea of a clean slate, and the opportunity to write a new story. That’s one reason moving to a new city is so wonderful; you can reinvent yourself. We can, of course, make resolutions any day; opportunity is one of our greatest gifts. But because it’s that time of year, my thoughts have turned to New Year’s resolutions. In years past, I have made all sorts of resolutions; some were kept and some were not. Every year one of them is to thank people; I hope that one is working. This year I am adding one to tell people how wonderful and important they are.

Because I am interested in etymology, the history of words, I researched the word resolution. As you might have guessed, it descends from the Latin, specifically from the verb resolvere. Interestingly, though, that word means to “untie, unfasten, loosen.” It’s related to words such as solution and absolution and solve and dissolve. The prefix “re” means to intensify, to emphasize. So the original meaning was a sort of super unbinding of … what?

Of anything.

Today the meaning of resolution is closer to the opposite: doing something with firm determination. It implies tenacity, strength, perseverance, and fortitude. These are all good things. But it makes me wonder what could we achieve if we “loosened up” and let things go instead of trying to use strength to bend them to our will.

I think I like the original definition better. What about you?

* Used with permission. An editor at Cool Springs Press, Billie can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”