In 2005 I will… [Fill in the blank with a random subconscious lie that nine times of ten will be forgotten by January’s end].Every year we pledge to lose 20 pounds, stop drinking, stop smoking, be kinder, be in church every Sunday, read more, etc. Then December 31 rolls around and we realize that we have gained 15 pounds, drank a Tequila shot a day, smoked a pack a day, belittled our peers, only made it to our annual Easter Sunday church service, and watched television like a part-time job.
Yes, for sanity’s sake I have rebuked the “New Years Resolution.” Instead I have decided to rise every dawn with great resolve and expectations for that day, and if by dusk my expectations have not been met then if God grants me my tomorrow I will begin my mission again.
Yesterday’s resolution was to greet everyone I passed on campus. Now I know several individuals who just read that statement are gasping in disgust and disbelief. I know this because when I spoke to you yesterday you looked at me like an alien or as if I was speaking Creole. Which sadly, is not surprising to me because when I first arrived on this campus as a person raised on small town values, I spoke to everyone and garnished the same response. So, I stopped speaking and in a lot of ways lost a part of myself. At dawn yesterday I decided to regain that part of “New Roads Nneka Meka,” and although by dusk I had completed my task, my mission is far from over.
My dear intelligent and beautiful Panthers, we receive enough unnecessary rudeness and belittling stares from a lot of faculty (whether they choose to realize this or not), to then turn around and do the same thing to our peers.
So to all who read this, join me in tomorrow’s resolution, which I borrowed from Pablo Picasso’s last words, “drink to me.” Toast to yourself and celebrate this New Year by celebrating all the folks around you.