This Dear Abby column, penned at the dawn of 2025, offers a comforting blend of traditional wisdom and spiritual guidance for navigating the new year. It begins with a warm welcome to readers, acknowledging the universal desire for fresh starts that accompanies the turning of the calendar. The core of the message revolves around a set of daily resolutions, adapted from Al-Anon by Pauline Phillips, the original Dear Abby. These resolutions, structured around the phrase “Just for today,” encourage a manageable, one-day-at-a-time approach to self-improvement, rather than overwhelming oneself with lofty, long-term goals. This manageable approach allows individuals to focus their energy on achievable daily targets, fostering a sense of accomplishment and encouraging continued positive change.
The resolutions themselves cover a spectrum of personal growth areas. They begin with a focus on mindfulness, urging readers to be present in the current day, rather than dwelling on past regrets or future anxieties. This emphasis on presence encourages a more peaceful and engaged experience of life. The resolutions then advocate for cultivating happiness by consciously choosing positive thoughts, accepting the realities of life, and actively engaging the mind through intellectual pursuits. These practices promote emotional well-being, resilience, and a sense of purpose. Furthermore, the resolutions emphasize interpersonal kindness and courtesy, urging readers to focus on self-improvement rather than criticizing others. This focus on positive interactions fosters stronger relationships and a more harmonious social environment.
The daily resolutions also address physical well-being, encouraging healthy habits like quitting smoking and incorporating physical activity, even something as simple as a short walk. Finally, they underscore the importance of moral courage and taking responsibility for one’s actions. By addressing these diverse aspects of life – mental, emotional, physical, and moral – the resolutions offer a holistic approach to personal development, fostering well-rounded growth and a sense of overall well-being. They are not about drastic overnight transformations, but rather small, consistent steps towards a better self.
Moving beyond the traditional resolutions, the column introduces a thoughtful contribution from a reader in New Delhi, India. This reader, L.J. Bhatia, offers a different perspective, suggesting guidelines inspired by the Vedas and the prayer of St. Francis. The Vedic wisdom highlights the self-imposed limitations humans often place on themselves, emphasizing the liberation that comes from aligning with the natural laws of the universe. This perspective encourages readers to examine self-limiting beliefs and embrace the freedom of living authentically.
The inclusion of the prayer of St. Francis adds a layer of spiritual depth to the New Year’s message. The prayer, in its various forms, expresses a profound desire to be an instrument of peace and healing in the world. It emphasizes the transformative power of giving, forgiving, and accepting the natural cycles of life and death. The prayer’s focus shifts from self-centered desires to selfless service, suggesting that true fulfillment comes from contributing to the well-being of others. It encourages readers to replace negativity with positivity – hatred with love, injury with pardon, doubt with faith, despair with hope, darkness with light, and sadness with joy.
The prayer’s second part embodies a paradox central to many spiritual traditions: that we receive by giving, are pardoned by pardoning, and find eternal life by accepting our mortality. This paradoxical wisdom suggests that true happiness and fulfillment are not found in seeking personal gratification, but in contributing to the well-being of others and accepting the natural course of life. It invites readers to consider the transformative power of selflessness and acceptance in their own lives.
In its entirety, the column blends practical advice for daily living with deeper spiritual reflections, offering a well-rounded approach to navigating the new year. The daily resolutions provide concrete, actionable steps for self-improvement, while the inclusion of the Vedic wisdom and the prayer of St. Francis encourages readers to connect with a larger sense of purpose and meaning. This combination of practical and spiritual guidance creates a powerful message of hope and renewal for the new year. It encourages readers to embrace the opportunity for positive change, not through grand gestures, but through consistent daily efforts and a focus on selfless service.
The column concludes with a heartfelt wish from Abby for a year filled with good health, peace, and joy for all. This simple closing sentiment reinforces the overall message of hope and optimism that permeates the entire piece. It reminds readers that the new year represents a fresh start, a chance to embrace positive change and cultivate a more fulfilling life, one day at a time. The column serves as a gentle reminder of the power we hold within ourselves to shape our lives and contribute to a better world. It encourages readers to approach the new year with intention, mindfulness, and a commitment to living a life of purpose and meaning.
