Grateful to avoid the pressure of resolutions

Are you a resolution maker or do you prefer to just move ahead into the year without a list of goals to work on?

Do you have trouble making resolutions that you can accomplish or even making resolutions at all?

And what about sharing those resolutions?

Did you know that there is something called “Quitters Day”? It’s today, the second Friday of January. People have studied how long resolution makers keep those vows and today is the day that many people call it quits. Hence the name.

I feel like there is a lot of pressure at this time of the year to commit to doing more, doing better and announcing it to the world.

Over the years, I’ve decided that I’m more of a quiet, take-on-the-next-challenge type of person. Perhaps I just don’t want to disappoint myself or others. Perhaps I crack under the collective pressure to decide which problem to tackle this year. I can’t really explain it.

So, I take some time to reflect on the past year and what is to come rather than decide what I’m going to try to accomplish. But my focus this time of year is on what is already going right, not what I need to fix.

And I feel very fortunate.

How fortunate am I to share another year with parents in their late 80s and 90s while watching the youngest family members learn to crawl, walk, talk and read?

We have a large, blended family with a mother who at 95 still uses a computer and cell phone, a father at 88 who still runs a business, siblings who are scattered up and down the East Coast and into the Midwest and grandchildren who are just starting life.

My husband and children who support me and my work and make my life warmer and easier, even in the worst of times.

How fortunate am I that I work for an organization that is striving to do good work in this community and abroad. After 10 years at the paper, you would think that I’d know all the ins and outs of the Alliance, but I learn something new every day.

For example, the series we’ve run highlighting our agency partners has taught me about funding in Argentina and even locally at the Hillel at the University of Rhode Island (see page 23 in this paper).

And the Dwares Jewish Community Center, where Jewish Rhode Island is housed, has so much to offer to the entire Rhode Island community. I’m constantly surprised at how many people don’t realize it is open to all with a fitness center and pool in the building. Apparently, more people are learning about it too. I’m told that membership is on the rebound after COVID, hitting 1,000 individual members and families in December. I am fortunate that I can find health and wellness inside this building.

And finally, I’m fortunate for all the supporters of this paper. This is a platform for covering the Jewish community in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts that wouldn’t exist without everyone’s support. In an era of rising antisemitism and clashing political opinions we try to bring some sanity to your life every month. I love hearing from you and look forward to seeing you at events and in the JCC.

And if you made some resolutions for 2025, let’s hope you make it past “Quitter’s Day.” I’ll see you in the fitness center! (Well, actually, probably not. . . .)

Fran Ostendorf,
Editor