Eliandro Ramirez Chang/ Contributing Writer
Around the end of the year our social media feeds light up with the familiar phrase “New year, New me.” The frequency of the phrase begs the question of “why”, why is it a phrase that is so used throughout all different personality types of people.
Is it a simple trend that some participate via FOMO (fear of missing out)? Or rather do some fall in a trend where the troubles and trials of the year takes so much out of the individual that they feel like they need a new start perhaps? Actual self improvement or simply the appearance?
Of course it’s never one or the other, different individuals do different things for different reasons. Though I do find the idea of this concept of constant loops of disappointment and dissatisfaction interesting. Even when stating that some people only speak the phrase “New year, New me” as a way to fit into the current trend, the unique reasoning behind that way of thinking is still something worth exploring.
Speaking on the constant disappointment and dissatisfaction note though, I feel like some might liberate themselves of the past at the end of the year because it’s symbolic.
The end of the year could symbolize the end of a way of life the individual may not have enjoyed. Leaving it all in the past and moving on to better things. Sounds good on paper but is it good in practice?
If one moved on to better things, why do some find themselves stating the same phrase at the end of each year? Are they perhaps disappointed each year that things didn’t go as planned and are dissatisfied in themselves and their surroundings as a result every year? Maybe they are.
It makes sense that humans always seek more and more. It’s in our nature, even when we achieve our goals we still want to see how much higher we can go. Some of us are content with their sand castles while others soar for the sky.
Both are in their right to do so, each to their own happiness. Though it tends to loop, what is it about humanity that leads us to desire more and more and fall into this loop of disappointment?. We end up living in an aura of dissatisfaction.
Probably overthinking the phrase, it might simply be a way to fit in and feel empowered harmlessly. At the core though, it seems to this writer that people fall into a loop. Some may want to start over, start fresh.
They pick the end of the year and feel motivated that this time they can achieve their goals. For a short time they do, they inch ever closer and closer every day. But then they slow down, they lose focus.
They gradually forget the goal with distractions of other things. Slowly they stop pursuing the goal all together. Once they reach the nearing of the new year, they reflect on what happened this year. They set goals, and the loop begins anew.
Though people are unique things, to say this is the case for most would be an oversimplification. It does, however, beg the question of why.
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The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of Panther Press Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.
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