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As Time Marches On, What Are We Waiting For To Change Things?

To The Reader’s Forum:

Well, 2022 is upon us. What I can’t figure out is why some people say “good riddance” to the prior calendar year. To me, “good riddance” is useful only when something, or someone bad ends or changes for the better. “Time”, including calendars, is a human creation; I suppose time helps make things orderly but, in reality, time is simply a continuum.

So, when poverty, inequality, war-like fighting, and ALL other negative human interaction ends or changes for the better, then it’s time to say “good riddance”. Calendar years don’t dictate WHEN things end or get better; they don’t dictate when we’ll die.

Time is merely an opportunity to look back and either choose to keep doing what we’ve done in the past, or look to the future in the HOPE for ends or changes – thus people suggest “resolutions”, but those, as most people can attest to, are non-binding. Again, resolutions only make sense when they are fulfilled, when we can say “good riddance” to whatever caused us to become resolved.

To me, the important question is why do I offer a resolution in the first place if I’m not willing to put in the work to be able to end something or change for the better? In fact, I’m really poor at making resolutions since the future is unforeseen, but I’m also somewhat lazy and, probably, selfish, too. I believe those traits exist for most of the world. Examples: what are we waiting for to “fix” Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds; when will we stop polluting the earth and control “climate change”; when will we treat our whole worldly neighbors with compassion; when will there be a reduction in the income/wealth gap?

Of course, the examples require a difficult, collective response whereas resolutions for self-improvement are “easier”. Thus, I propose this question: If we can’t end bad things or change for the better for ourselves, how do we expect to do so collectively? What’s so special about 2022 that suggests we will do anything different than we did in 2021?

Calendar years may change but time marches on and waits for no person. I hope I can do the right things to become better for both myself and where collective action is required – to be able to say “good riddance” to many things. I also hope you do, too.

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