Keeping Faith with New Year's Resolution

In the little town of Camalig where I grew up, somewhere in the southeastern part of the Philippines, we had no tradition of making new year's resolution or promises to keep for the new year. We had strict Catholic upbringing and a stricter sense of ethics and morality. We were told to be good children at the start of the new year so that we would continue to be good and obedient the rest of the year.

When post-modernity settled in, the promises we make to ourselves became diverse and less spiritual. What do we promise ourselves these days? I'll stop smoking and contribute to less pollution of the air. That's a good one and very much in urgency as we become more aware of Al Gore's "An Uneasy Truth". I'd say, it should have been " A Frightening Truth" or "An Alarming Reality". Deciding to go green is a good promise to oneself and to society. It entails a lot of adjustment in our lifestyle, in what we consume, how we use our leisure time and how much we travel for our holidays. A very hard resolution to keep away from smokes and drinks!

What's another common resolution? Eat healthy, less red meat, more greens and lentils and fish. Keep away from Coca-colas and Pepsis in favour of homemade lemonades and natural fruit drinks. Keep away from McDonald hamburgers even if they are adapting their products to healthier mixes; and most of all keeping away from over-processed foods that contain preservatives. They are achievable but the temptation is there and fastfoods are very affordable.

How about spending less on clothes, bags, shoes and other accessories? Wow, that's tough command. Maybe for one sale season but not the whole year. It's easy to rationalise one's buying tendencies and this I am guilty of, I must admit. I say, Hell! I've worked so hard, have so little fun, too much stress I need to feel good by getting something that makes me feel great and human. As many hairspray ads say: " You're worth it "!. Yap, I say to myself, I'm worth it, I'll have another handbag pls. with matching shoes and belt.

There must be worthwhile resolutions that we can keep sacred and achieved. Say, for example that you'd try to read as many good books as possible, maybe organise a book circle, discuss and criticise literary works. This is a good one. While it is very self-rewarding to read, it feels sometimes hopeless not to be able to discuss one's knowledge with others. Facebook offers an opportunity to exchange views about books we read. But, it does lack personal touch, meaning - the physical presence of people talking, and then of course, the coffee or drinks and some eats.

A grand new year's resolution questions our social engagement in issues that affect our lives. Environment, for one is a pressing matter and we are already feeling the climate changes taking place in our midst. Politics is something we breath in the air. Living in Sweden means we cannot be apolitical. We have to be involved one way or the other. We have to react when there are flaws in the social, economic and justice systems because we are all affected by such changes. There is no way we can remain neutral or worst, indifferent. When the government cuts on welfare that affect our sick leave benefits, or when we must produce a medical certificate attesting to our sickness on the first day, these are matters of common urgency we must react to immediately.

There are many things that the Swedish alliance government wants to change and we need vigilance to watch and keep tract that such reforms do not eat away, or much worse endanger our individuality and the freedom to decide how we want to live our lives. Vigilance is a good new year's resolution. Vigilance against violence is urgent here and now.