Resolve to be kind
It’s that time again. Out with the old and in with the new. The reckoning of the Christmas treats has started and the gyms are busy with the new-found enthusiasm of the most resolute dieters.
For me, it is a time of reflection and contemplation of which unrealistic goals to set for the following year. My inspiration for this year’s resolution has come from an unlikely source: Doctor Who.
I started watching Doctor Who when I was a new mom, up late, nursing my baby, trying to stay awake and not fall asleep with a newborn in my arms.
At the time, there was a marathon of Doctor Who on Space Channel and I recorded them on our PVR so I wouldn’t have to channel surf every night to find something strange enough to keep me awake.
Six years later, I watch it religiously and have even bought myself a very nice TARDIS mug.
Doctor Who is a strange and wonderful show you think is just entertaining and then, all of a sudden, a companion leaves or the Doctor regenerates and you are weeping like a baby.
The show, for you haters out there, has been on the air for more than 50 years and is wonderful.
On Christmas Day, the final episode with the Twelfth Doctor, Peter Capaldi, aired before the reigns of the TARDIS are handed over to the next Doctor, Jodie Whittaker, and what a lovely episode it was.
In his final moments, the Doctor calls out, “Laugh hard. Run fast. Be kind,” before erupting in the golden light of a regeneration cycle. It was a beautiful send-off to an excellent Doctor and I am thankful to him for the reminder.
I cannot think of a nicer way to cap a year and start a new one than simply remembering to be kind. How many times have things gone horribly wrong in our lives as a result of failures of kindness? How many days or moments could have been uplifted ever so slightly by laughing hard? As for running fast, I likely won’t be doing any of that anytime soon however all new year’s resolutions should have at least one unattainable goal otherwise there is nothing to put on the list for next year.
So this year, I will take the Doctor’s advice to the best of my ability and be kind where I can be and I hope you can join me.
I wish you all the very best in the new year.