Chasing 2023: 10 Resolutions for the New Year
By Caroline Downey
Honor womanhood
If there’s one thing we better make loud and clear in 2023: the female experience is not a costume or a caricature. A man cannot magically transform himself into a woman. The instinct for nurturing, inner and outer beauty, and other inexplicable, intricate feminine qualities cannot be manufactured through surgery or mere declaration. We must defend and refuse to apologize for womanhood in 2023.
Think of posterity
Our egoistic culture encourages selfishness, immediate gratification, and greed. That’s an empty way to live. We have an obligation to our fellow man and to those who come after us. We must strive to leave a legacy- and leave our country a better place than we found it.
We must fight for our children’s education, keep our cities safe, and protect the unborn. Instead of buying cheap stuff, we should restore heirloom jewelry to bequeath to our daughters. We should stop with the self-focused attitude and ask more questions like: “Would this make my future grandchildren proud”?
Cut out the toxins
You don’t have to be a raw egg nationalist-type to recognize that much of our consumption isn’t free. Our foods are pumped with preservatives, our skincare is polluted with chemicals, and our social lives are filled with people who don’t have our best interest at heart.
This year, we remove the artificial. Fake, “sunny day” friends can never replace the warmth of true friendship. Seed oils are bad for our health. In 2023, we keep it real.
Be fearless in pursuit of truth
If there was ever a time to speak your mind freely and without fear, it’s now. The culture needs young, female voices denouncing feminism, leftism, and all the other forces corroding society.
Intentional dating
In this time of slipping standards, dating with intentionality is a radical act. You and other singles deserve dignity as you date. For women: challenge men to pursue you with sweet gestures, good conversation, and consistency. 2023 is the year of accepting offers from people who respect your time and know your worth- and extending the same in turn.
Slow down
Billy Joel had a point when he sang, “You better cool it off before you burn it out. You got so much to do but only so many hours in a day.” Maybe it’s social media’s fault, but everything feels like a rat race today. Kids of Gen-Z especially put undue pressure on themselves to shoot for the moon and snag those life milestones by age 25. But the best things in life don’t need to be rushed. Not every moment has to be maximally productive to matter. Sometimes it’s wonderful to sit in the stillness, surrounded by loved ones, shooting the breeze and enjoying the here and now. Life is short- don’t wish it away!
Stop comparing
Jordan Peterson’s advice is still sound: compare yourself to who you were last year rather than to your peers. Reflect less on what you’ve accomplished in terms of career climbing and more on how you’ve developed as a person. We’re all works in progress. Comparison is the thief of joy.
Bring back hospitality
Have a hospitable heart. Open your doors to friends, family, and strangers. Lose the skepticism and cynicism towards neighbors and be helpful. While we’re at it, entertaining is a dying art. Be the change by hosting dinners, surprise parties, cocktail nights, etc. with generosity.
Pray
Take time to thank God for your blessings. In this chaotic, materialistic world, staying grounded is all the more important. Detach yourself from the temporal for a moment and put your sights on the heavenly. It’s good for mental health and the soul.
Learn interior design
Furnishing and beautifying a space is an acquired skill. It’s a rewarding feeling to see a room you’ve curated -from color scheme to light fixtures- come together. Filling a home or apartment with memorable items with stories behind them is a great way to check off #2. For example, I plan to make wall art one day out of the many match boxes I’ve collected from New York City’s restaurants and cocktail establishments.
Caroline Downey is the Editor-in-Chief of The Conservateur and an education reporter at National Review. She can be found on Twitter @carolinedowney_.