With the year ending and new one coming, people get the chance to hit the “reset” button on their lives with traditions! People commonly choose to start a New Year’s resolution. The purpose of these resolutions is to accomplish a goal, improve yourself and behavior, and/or change a personal trait like to start exercising more, traveling more, eating healthier, or get better grades in school. With the opportunity for a “blank slate,” there are many ways to improve your lifestyle. 

Class of 2025 All Saints’ Episcopal School student Landry Milliken shared that as she began the year of 2023 her resolution was, “eating healthier.” She attempted this and it lasted for a couple months, but it didn’t last as long as she hoped. But this year she is improving on her lifestyle with her new resolution, “being more active after school and not sleeping as much.” Milliken likes to take long naps after school, causing her to procrastinate her schoolwork, but she hopes to fix that with her new resolution. Her goal for this resolution is to make it three months without stopping her resolution.    

On New Years Eve, Milliken is excited to, “watch the ball drop on TV with her friends and family.” This tradition is over one hundred years old. It started in 1904, but 1907 was the first time the ball dropped from a pole in Times Square, New York City. Ever since 1907, the ball has been lowered every year, with millions of people watching and counting down the seconds until the new year. 

Another tradition is eating Black Eyed Peas on New Year’s Day. This tradition originated during the Civil War when people felt lucky to have the peas during winter and food was scarce. The Milliken’s participate in this tradition to bring them luck throughout their year.