Is it a New Year’s resolution or a New Year’s wish?

What is the difference between a resolution and a wish? Mr. Webster defines resolution as a firm decision to do or not to do something while the same Mr. Webster defines wish as a desire or hope for something to happen or something to be done.

It is therefore both correct to welcome every new year with a new year’s resolution and a new year’s wish. But we should not interchange the meaning of new year’s resolution from new year’s wish.

These are my new year’s resolution and I am firmly resolved to do these: First, I will delete from my Facebook account people who are not anymore active in the social media. Those who do not like or comment or share or repost for the longest time my post/s. Come to think of it, I can actually leave my facebook account or deactivate it. But I will not do that because I also believe in the importance of my facebook. As a teacher, I get to post announcement to my students; share link or forward good messages to the people in my friends list. Second, I will not anymore buy jewelries because I get to receive them from my sister (Wenceslita Nuera) who is an American Citizen by virtue of naturalization. And sometimes, those jewelries I purchase would just end up in the pawnshop. Plus the fact that I received an inspiration from Mama Mary that it is not good for me to be seen wearing high-end jewelries especially during PREX (parish renewal experience) seminars or when I get to give recollections. Finally, I resolve to allow the natural course to happen in the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP). I have also received an inspiration through a particular dream that I should not file a complaint to the Ombudsman questioning the policy prescribed and subscribed by the Board during the election of the USEP president. God wants me to take a back seat and let HIS will be done in USEP.

For my new year’s wish: Ang walang kamatayang (endless) wish of good will and peace on earth. Actually, I always have the same wish every new year like good health for my mother; safety for my siblings wherever they may be; and prosperity for everyone I love. But for this year my ONLY personal new year’s wish is to have my final defense accepted and to receive my doctoral degree before June of 2018.

That is the difference between new year’s resolutions from new year’s wish. We should not think that they are both and the same in context and in meaning because they are not.

Although, when it comes to tradition, making new year’s resolution is more of the tradition than the new year’s wish because we celebrate the media noche and welcome the new year with a list of resolutions though some in the list would appear like a new year’s wish.

Happy New Year to Everyone! May the year 2018 be good to us!