Resolutions throughout time

I have never really been one for new years resolutions. I never saw the point in waiting until the beginning of the year to decide change was needed. The new year shouldn't be the only time you look back and reflect on what changes need to be made. So why is it a tradition that we start each new year off with a a plan of empty promises to ourselves . I will tell you why because it is a time honored tradition we have been celebrating for thousands of years. According to history.com we have the Babylonians to thank for this long honored tradition of resolutions. The Babylonian's believed if you made a promise to the gods and honored it good favor would be bestowed upon you in the new year. The Romans contributed to this tradition by making the start of the new year January 1st named after the two faced god Janu who two faces symbolized looking backwards and forward into the future and just like the Babylonians made promises to the gods of good conduct for the upcoming year. The early Christians honored the tradition by looking back at one’s mistakes and making resolutions to God to do better in the future. We today make promises but to ourselves to do better for our self which we never keep. According to research only about 8 % of us actually keep those promises. it could be those resolutions were made to the the gods an if they were not kept there would serious consequences. The resolutions have changed as well it seems…