The next time we are all gathered together on campus, it will be a new year. It’s a time of personal beginnings, even if it doesn’t portend any significant changes on the level of civilizations. There won’t be a presidential election or Olympic games. 2011 isn’t even as exciting as the predicted apocalypse (1984, Y2K, or 2012.) But cataclysms aside, the end of the year is usually a time of giving, caring, taking stock and charting new courses. Bah, humbug.
I enjoy this time of the year as much as the next person, but my inner Scrooge is most visible whenever our culture touts a “special time of year.” Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the tradition of traditions, but that does not mean that we should forgo consistency during the rest of our lives.
This is called a singular time of year, but it ought not to be. Should we only love in February, become charitable in December, resolve in January, or appreciate mothers, fathers, earth and veterans at particular points in the year? Obviously not. Admittedly, dedicated events and conventional sentiments can help us to remember even the most fundamental of truths we somehow forgot. But times of specifically remembering are different from the unfortunate pairing of attitudes with seasons.
Consistency is the bane of individual human experience. After we become comfortable and acclimated to a situation, we tend towards complacency. Our ideas, ideals, appreciations, and resolutions mean nothing if they are not constantly refreshed and renewed. The true test of our character is what we actually do, not just what we desire to do or what we have done.
Identifying our passions and goals are relatively easy when compared to the actual effort to fulfill them. Knowing where you are going is always easier than getting there. But, as with many parts of life, sometimes the most difficult things are also the most worthwhile. Being holistic is harder than participating in a fragmented season-driven culture, but in that consistency we can find an actual dedication to our ideals … rather than caring when convenience and commercials tell us to.
This all isn’t to say that you should be a pessimistic about your life. Change in portions of our beliefs and life is sometimes warranted and certainly possible. The point is not to be forever consistent or constantly in flux, but to identify the appropriate times and places for both. All things considered, I believe we all could benefit from a bit more consistency. Once you have accomplished this, tell me how.
So this year, more than resolving to hit the gym, dropping a bad habit, or gaining a new good one, resolve for consistency. This time should be a reminder to the charity, love, and taking stock that should typify our life … rather than interrupting it. Dedicate to consistency, not just to the conventions of the season, however noble they may be.
Originally published in the Willamette Collegian.