Songsoptok
interview
New Year’s Resolutions
SONGSOPTOK: New Year’s Eve is just
around the corner. A large percentage of people all over the world are thinking
about making new resolutions. Why do you think people make resolutions on New
Year’s Day specifically?
MOU MODHUBONTI: Resolutions are a promise people make to God
to return objects that they borrowed from other Gods. The New Year starts with
month January that derived from Janus, the mythical God
of early Rome. This period started from 153 B.C. If they fail, they can easily
put the blame on God’s shoulder. People used to make resolutions just to keep
track of a time frame and they try to accomplish that out of fear of God not
for their own effortt.
SONGSOPTOK: Available evidence
shows that the origin of making new resolutions on New Year was started long
time back in Babylon – the Babylonians made promises to their Gods. So did the
Romans. In today’s society, resolutions are mostly promises we make to
ourselves. How do you explain this shift in paradigm?
MOU MODHUBONTI: You are very right. Over time, people learnt that they have to
work for anything they want to achieve, Education is important. In every
discipline, it teaches that success comes step by step and for that we need a
sincere “To Do List”. Daily, Weekly,
Monthly. This list is all over. People can post them on the computer, in the
kitchen, in the bathroom, in the bed room, and even in their hand-held devices.
Visual. That’s the main point. No way to forget. God fearing resolution was
invisible. No self-Motivation. Inducted motivation cannot make one fully
successful. Now, modern technology is reducing people’s fear of God’s power,
allowing them to pursue personal l goal and achievement for themselves. The reflection
of time change is now very clear. There is no need to wait for New Year’s Day
to start changing.
SONGSOPTOK: In your opinion, is
this custom religious or social? In the country or the society you live in, is
1st January considered to be the beginning of the New Year? If not, on which
day does the New Year start? What are the specific customs, if any, associated
with your New Year?
MOU MODHUBONTI: Depending on the person, New Year’s can be
either social, religious, or both. However, in my opinion, New Year is a social
custom. Recently, it has become a global celebration yet it is also mixes in a
religious aspect. For example, many Christians go to the Lutheran church on the
first day of January to pray. It became the most celebrated public holiday and
by the stroke of midnight, depending on the time zone, observed with fireworks,
cheers, night-long celebrations with one’s family and friends.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you believe in
New Year’s Resolutions? Do you systematically make resolutions every year? Are
you going to do the same this year? Why?
MOU MODHUBONTI: I do not believe in making resolutions. I am
not a God fearing person. I care for what I do at my own effort and will do.
Sometimes we work hard but we fail. However, eventually we all will be the
winner if we do our work and practice sincerely. I have never made any
resolutions in the past not do I have one for this year. My “To Do List” list
is always ready and from time to time I review and shuffle them for next
achievement.
SONGSOPTOK: What, in your
experience, are the types of New Year’s resolutions do people make? What are
yours?
MOU MODHUBONTI: Firstly, I have none. I am
not a believer of New Year resolutions. However, I do believe that most people
make resolutions to ultimately take charge of their own lives in order to make
it better or a life they can be satisfied. That could be by making their
financial situation better by getting rid of debt, losing weight, giving back
to the community more through volunteering and much more.
SONGSOPTOK: In case you are a
believer in these resolutions, can you share your experience with us? Were you
able to fulfill your resolutions? How did it make you feel?
MOU MODHUBONTI: As I said earlier, I do not believe in New
Year’s Resolutions. As I make my “To Do
list”, most of my success came from sincerity and punctuality. I am a networker
and I help people to help myself. I am also a
writing which is not an easy career to uphold but I know for sure
that if I continue to be sincere and devoted to publish
my works I can be much better than I was before. Despite that I am not crazy
for publicity. Indeed, every writer should work hard to become welcome known as
the time demands and stay in main stream as a writer but for me , writing is
not just a potentially well paid career, it is my passion.
SONGSOPTOK: Research shows only
8% of people achieve their New Year’s resolutions. What, according to you, are
the reasons behind this low rate of success? What could be the likely causes in
your case?
MOU MODHUBONTI: Until New Year’s Eve, people are highly enthusiastic and excited for the
New Year. Once the New Year comes, it becomes a regular day with a huge burden
of bills. In the month of January, people get bills but in February they start
with festivities again such as Valentine’s Day. All holidays include rich and
high calorie foods, gifts, travelling, and maintaining social status. Once
again, people spend excessive amounts of money while in the work industry, many
lose their temporary jobs, seasonal jobs, and even permanent jobs. Nonetheless,
only self-determined people can achieve their goal and that percentage is, as
you mentioned, only 8%.
SONGSOPTOK: In case you were
able to stick to one or more New Year’s resolutions, can you share with us how
you managed to do this? In the opposite case, why do you think you were not
able to attain your objectives? What, in your opinion, are some of the better
ways to make resolutions stick?
MOU MODHUBONTI: First of all, my only goal last year was to
achieve success. How I achieved my goal? Determination, punctuality,
open-mindedness, helping people, organizing meetings after meetings, and good
communication with corporate authorities. I always held high respect for my
mentors and was agile to my followers. I was not fully successful on some
projects due to a lack of proper information and guidelines.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you believe in
the feel good factor associated with making New Year Resolutions? Do you
personally feel pious come New Year’s Eve because of the resolutions you made?
Do you declare them publicly? If yes, then how did your family and friends
react to your resolutions?
MOU MODHUBONTI: At any New Year’s Eve party, it is good keep a
declaration of New Year’s resolutions as a part of the program. In my
experience, I haven’t found anyone who did that seriously, neither in the
Bengali community, nor in any Indian or Canadian parties. Last year in Philips
Nathan Square, in Toronto, during the fireworks a few young couples declared
their New Year’s Resolution to make each other happy by buying a new house or
to go on vacation together. One couple even resolved to start a new business. I
have spoken with many university students about their New Year resolutions as
well to which they responded by laughing and saying that they have they follow
their daily, weekly, and monthly To Do Lists. In other words, they do not
believe in New Year’s Resolutions.
SONGSOPTOK: There are market
segments that capitalize on New Year’s resolutions, such as health clubs. Do
you feel they have equal responsibilities in helping the pledgers to fulfill
their resolutions?
MOU MODHUBONTI: I have discussed this matter with a few obese people and got the answer
that it is only a business hype. From the first week of January, people stay in
queue for health clubs, but when they see the long queue, they lose their
interest so in very rare cases has anyone achieved their goal. It’s not only
fitness club capitalization, it’s also a capitalization for Vitamin world,
Organic food industry and the clothing industry. Frankly speaking, the
responsibility does not help others when one own-self is not willing to move
forward. Yes, the Health club may send reminders by text messages, email, or
even by phone but in certain places such as Canada, winter is a severely cold
season with shorter days so many people would rather stay at home in the warmth
than go out to the Health club.
MOU MODHUBONTEE is
a very health conscious Social activist. She raises her strong voice for any
social injustice and writes about domestic violence in poetry or in articles.
Mou Modhubontee is in quest of all Godly aspects. She believes that religion is
no longer an important rule used to discipline people since there is law and
enforcement is that exists around the world. If people can come out of conflict
in the religious power game, the world will be a more harmonious and peaceful
environment place to live. Religion should be a personal practice not a social
stigma.
We sincerely thank you
for your time and hope to have your continued support.
Aparajita
Sen
(EDITOR)
Songsoptok
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