New Year’s Day is full of promise, or should I say promises? (The promises we make to ourselves.) This time, we mean it, and our promises will become resolutions — resolutions that we keep. We’re going to lose those pounds, save money, be more patient, treat our friends like they’re family and treat our family like they’re friends.
But somewhere around Valentine’s Day, we may discover we’re in love with our old habits, and changing is harder than we thought. Why? Well, I’m willing to bet the answer is somewhere within the difference in being interested in something and being committed to it.
I am interested in learning to kayak. I daydream about paddling away on the Edisto River on a brisk spring day. I imagine seeing the pelicans and egrets live solely in the moment and with absolutely no regrets. But have I made much of an effort to get myself out there? No, I haven’t. I have an interest in kayaking the Edisto River, not a commitment to do so.
There’s nothing wrong with being interested in things, whether or not you get around to doing them. The interest itself is fun. And we can’t possibly be committed to everything in our lives. There’s just not enough time.
But how can we remain dedicated to those promises we want to be committed to? The answer is to let yourself be driven by the why. Whenever you’re in the moment of faltering, think deeply about the reason you wanted to commit to the promise in the first place. Let that reason drive your will.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become committed to my health. I watch what I eat. I work out 
everyday. And whenever I feel my dedication to my health falter, I think about how much more there is for me to do on this earth, and for me to make it all happen, I have to focus on my health. I have to. So, I’m committed. I’m so committed I drink my breakfast. Karen and I have really gotten into celery juice lately.
The difference between interest and commitment can best be illustrated by the classic American breakfast. Think about a plate of piping hot eggs and bacon. The chicken was interested, but the pig was committed. The chicken gave some while the pig gave all.
So this New Year’s, make your commitments with a capital C, and be the baCon.
William W. Brown is founder and board chair of Legacy Early College. wbrown@legacyearlycollege.org
