30 December,2009 08:04 AM IST | | Qasim Mehdi
With 2009 bidding us farewell and 2010 waiting with open arms, there will be millions around the world who will be hoping that the New Year brings about a difference in society and our lives.
What we expect from the year ahead and from ourselves through our resolutions is for things to be different.
The difference could be in terms of trying to shake-off or lose something that isn't doing us any good and has still become indispensable.
The difference could also be in terms of gaining something that we always wanted and which, we hope, will turn our lives around for good. But is this loss and gain really that simple? I don't think so.
New Year resolutions indicate that people are thirsty for a change in society and in their own lives
In fact, I believe making a change like this happen is the hardest thing to do at the spur of the moment.
Expecting things to change from Day One is just foolish. For instance, smokers can't expect to kick the butt at the stroke of midnight while the nicotine is still coursing through their veins.
Similarly, expecting an immediate change in society, bureaucracy, politics and the environment at the macro level and in ourselves at the micro level is asking for too much. Most changes can't even happen over an entire year.
Change at the macro level is a gradual process involving mass participation. We can't expect major changes in the kind of society we live in.
Can we reasonably expect that the gap between the poor and the wealthy will be bridged? Can we expect the credulous and the cunning to come together? The answer would be a unanimous 'no'.
The elected leaders will continue to reap the benefits meant for those who elected them. Farmers will continue committing suicides and the so-called religious leaders will keep spreading the message of hate to increase their following.
u00a0News of crime and corruption will rule the prime time on news channels and almost every individual will forget the New Year resolutions as soon as the calendar shows January 2.
So, should we stop hoping for change altogether and give up making New Year resolutions completely?
Definitely not, foru00a0 resolutions are indicative of a thirst for change among the people.
Let's start from the small things that matter as they will, eventually, make a huge difference. So, keep making resolutions and try to put them into practice. I wish all the readers a happy and 'New' Year ahead.
