The New Year New Me Excitement 

The Sri Lanka and Tamil New Year has dawned, and although making resolutions isn’t quite as famous as the Westerners and the English New Year, there is no fact denying its presence in and around Colombo. While only 8 percent of those who make these New Year New Me resolutions tend to be successful, resolutions have stood the test of time in society as something to mull over with the commencement of the New Year. 

I went around asking a few of the Sri Lankan youth out there about their New Year resolutions, and I did come up with quite a few interesting responses. Check it out! 

Minoshi Corea 

With our generation today I think the biggest issue is that we listen to reply and we do not listen to understand. Thus, communication is an occurrence. My resolution would be to clear the air from this problematic situation and also others and influence them to do so. 

Supeshala Liyanage 

This might sound a bit cheesy but in terms of relationships I hope to strengthen the bonds that I already have with my family and friends. 

Akil Fernando 

My new year resolution would be to break any sort of prejudice I have for someone due to what I’ve heard about them and find out for myself. 

Ronali Wickrematunge 

My 2016 goal: don’t let yourself stoop to the same low as 2015! 

Renal Dissanayake 

Because life is so short and busy that we often forget to live. We go to college, work, meet deadlines and reach new levels of stress forgetting how long we really have here. And so my resolution is to do something that I want to enjoy it and savor the moment. 

While there were a number of intriguing resolutions and support for resolutions, there were also those who didn’t quite agree with the concept. 

Thariq Fuad 

I don’t believe in the whole New Year, New Me, to me that’s procrastination. Every day is a chance to improve. 

Nidula Athulathmudali 

I believe that the New Year is not the only time one should come up with a resolution to become better or change for the better. I don’t know a single person who made a resolution for the New Year and successfully implemented it. If you want to change, now is the time, the present and one shouldn’t wait for the new year to realize it. 

Chathuranga Pitigala 

My new year resolution is to maintain my strong habit of not doing New Year resolutions. 

Dawood Veera 

New Year New Me - that’s pretty overrated. I believe it’s best if we focus on ourselves and learn to fix our flaws before looking for the complete makeover. 

On a final note, I personally believe setting goals and targets is rather an impressive thing to do, which directs you to a particular destination in terms of successfully fulfilling it. Nevertheless although the New Year brings new opportunities and memories, it doesn’t necessarily mean we have to change everything about ourselves. It’s not about a new you but rather a better version of yourself, a “You 2.0” pretty much like an android or iOS update - you don’t really change but end up fixing yourself. 

By Zainab Faizal