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Articles and Information
Why You Need a New Year's Resolution
by Melanie Wilson
There are people who never have New Year's resolutions, and there are people like me who always do. Over the years I haven't always stuck with them, but each year I start anew, and sometimes these resolutions have led to serious transformations. In fact, becoming a vegetarian was one of the most important New Year's resolutions I ever made. There have been several, however, which resulted in significant changes in my life.
In 1997, concerned about my steadily rising intake of refined sugar, I decided to give up soda and chocolate. I can already hear many of you out there saying, "OK, I understand giving up soda, but chocolate!?" Then you wonder if I stuck with these resolutions for the long-term. Well, I do drink an occasional caffeine-free soda, usually at a party. But we don't buy them, and if I have a choice of juice or soda, I'll take juice. However, I don't regularly eat chocolate anymore.
I have friends and family who think I'm totally crazy. They wonder how I could possibly choose to give up these little "pleasures" when I've already "given up so much" just by being vegan. I don't know how to convey my desire - nay, my need - to consistently work toward a healthier lifestyle to people who still think eating sausage for breakfast and McDonald's for lunch is OK. In fact, I only vaguely knew myself why I wanted to give up refined sugar; I just knew it wasn't good for me, and thought I'd give abstinence a try and see if I found a change in my physical well being.
By giving up soda for a year, I not only cut back considerably on my sugar intake, I also cut back on my caffeine consumption, which directly affected my level of stress. I became pregnant in February of that year, so my action benefited me and my unborn baby. It made giving up my morning coffee for a time that much easier, too. But I also discovered something sad and amazing that year through my New Year's resolution: I am allergic to chocolate.
This admission earns me much deserved pity and awe. Yes, I do miss chocolate; in fact, sometimes I crave it terribly, give in and eat a piece…and pay for my weakness for days. It triggers an immune response that causes headaches and skin reactions. I had struggled with these problems for over a year, never dreaming that they had anything at all to do with a food allergy. It wasn't until I was free of them for six months that my nurse husband noted that it was probably due to a change in my diet. Sure enough, the next time I gave in and ate a candy bar, I experienced the reactions all over again.
So I am an enthusiastic advocate of New Year's resolutions. And I think you should tell people what your resolution is when they ask you. Besides giving you added incentive to stick with it, you advertise to those around you that working toward better health - be it mental or physical - is an admirable goal. If you've been vegetarian trying to go vegan for some time, consider giving up dairy or eggs in 2003. In fact, commit only to one month at first if that's all you can handle. If you are vegan, ask yourself, how can I improve my diet, or what other positive changes could I make in my life?
By having a resolution you get to try on a different way of life for a time, one that you may not be committed to taking on for the rest of your life. As a result, you may discover something about the changes in your mind and/or body that lead to a long-term transformation. So, what are you waiting for? Start the New Year off right with a resolution for better health.
Melanie Wilson is the former editor and publisher of Vegetarian Baby & Child
magazine. She edits the family section of VegNews and manages Vegetarianteen.com online magazine.
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