Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-12-20
HOW TO BEGIN THE NEW YEAR
Don't Get Discouraged, But Keep
Making Your Resolutions.

Don't Get Discouraged. But Keep on
Making Your Resolutions.
1t is pretty well known by this time
that the designation of the first day
of January as the beginning of the
new year is purely arbitrary. In
neither an astronomical or climatic
sense has any particular change taken
place, and, as matter of fact, the
date, which should have been in
March, at the time OF the vernal equi-
nox, has been distorted TO its present
place by series of changes extend
ing over many centuries.
But, for practical purposes, II mat
ters nothing If the year began in July,
so long as The seasons came around in
their regular sequence. The year
must begin somewhere, and the first
of January Is as good as any other
day, and in all probability the date is
now fixed for all time to come.
II may be remarked here, however,
that fiscal years, whether by nations
or corporations, almost invariably be-
gin on some other date than the first
of January. Why this is SO no one can
explain; perhaps it is due to the in
herent perversity of human nature.
How the beginning OF the new year
became associated with the making of
new resolutions is easily explainable.
As merchants open up new set of
books, so the average person, not In
business, feels it incumbent upon him
self to open up a new set of resolu-
tions. How nice it would be IL he
could close up the old books, and
start the new year with n clean bal
nnce sheet
But, as IL happens, there Is no way
OF ettacing the past, so the boy or girl
who looks back on the old year, and
contemplates long line of follies and
faults, can only sigh for the broken
resolutions of the past and make new
ones for the future.
Perhaps this may not appear TO be
very profitable transaction, but IL Is
better than 1t seems. No one can be
good without first desiring to be so, so
that New Years resolutions are first
steps toward the end.
This is taking it for granted that we
are all going to make resolutions,
which, of course, Is not strictly true.
Some very worthy boys and girls, as
well as other persons, are doubtless
discouraged by this time, and say. de-
spairingly: ut is not for me to resolve.
/ can't be gentle, truthful. industrious
and studious | know i can't, because
l resolved that l would be last New
Years day, and before the summer
came | was as bad as everl"
No doubt that is all true, but there
is no need of getting disheartened
about It, TRY, try again" refers TO
resolutions as well as deeds.
III you can keep a resolve for two
months one year and three months
the following year there Is distinct
gain, and gives reason TO believe that
you can keep your resolution for
whole year by and by.
Then consider the pleasure OF max.
ing good resolutions. The most mis-
chievous Of boys may be a veritable
saint for an entire day or may
be a week, and the memory
of the event will rebound TO his
credit and may pailiate future mis-
deeds. He can realize for one day at
least that there is actual enjoyment in
behaving himself, and who knows
what impression such lesson may
possibly make?
Suppose that the resolutions are
only kept on the day that they are
made. Well, even that is something
gained II everybody resolved TO be
polite, considerate and hmiable on the
first day OF January IL would certain.
ly be n heppy New Years day Or,
better still, suppose we all resolved TO
try to make some other person happy.
And why not? IL takes very little
20 bring happiness to the majority of
people. A word, look, a smile. are
alike productive OF pleasure, and cost
nothing at all They actually exert a
reflex action, making the one who con-
fers just AS happy as the one who re-
ceives. And IL is easier 10 be In good
humor than in fit of temper There
is no strain on the nerves, which, as
everybody knows, tends TO shorten
life.
So as we said before, why not have
a happy New Year which shall be
twelve months long. since II can be
had by simply resolving? Begin on
the first day OF January, II you will,
and repeat the resolve on the second
day and every one thereafter Don't
try impossibiltiesi just simply make
some person happy each day in the
year and see how happy IL will make
yourself. Davs.