The Only Real Resolution

Let's be real... very few people ever stick to their New Year's Resolutions. Sure, we make them with the best of intentions, but isn't there a quote about the road to Hell and good intentions? 
Here is the reality. We could all stand to make some changes, but the majority of us just aren't going to do it. Why? Because it's hard, and most of the time life is hard enough, without adding more hoops to jump through. Sure we want to lose weight, save money, stop smoking/drinking/etc. and maybe we'll even make a valiant effort for a few weeks. But then we get busy with work or family, and those good intentions become one more thing we are forced to do that we just can't or simply don't want to do. 
So why do we even make New Year's Resolutions? Most people do it because it's the thing to do. Everyone else is doing it, so you jump on the bandwagon. But is that really a good reason to want to change? No, it's not. Change is difficult, and while we all might really want to make some changes, very few of us are truly ready or willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve it. Especially in January. You just survived the most stressful time of the year, do you really want to reward yourself by adding new stresses? It's winter, many of us are cold and depressed, and that cookie or glass of wine might be the only thing keeping us from losing our damn minds.
So I'm going to save us all a lot of hassle and say that there is really only one REAL worthwhile resolution to make this year. Drumroll please....

Be better.

Yup, that's it. Whatever changes you want to make, whatever goals you set, however big or small, the only thing that really matters is to be better versions of ourselves. To never stop growing and changing, to try new things and discover new joys. To accept that while there are some things we can't change, there are many more things that ARE within our control. Be a better friend, a better spouse, a better employee, a better human. 
Maybe you will lose all that excess weight and look great in a bikini, but if all you can do is change a few bad habits, and stop hating yourself... isn't that still better? Making big and difficult resolutions is merely setting ourselves up for failure, but if we simply try to be better, we are much more likely to succeed. A mountain is climbed one step up at a time, not in one giant leap. 
Here's to 2015.... may it be a better year for everyone.