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Today we
talk about the word “resolution.” Resolution is a word with more than one
meaning.
resolution: meta,
propósito, objetivo, decisión;
However, when talking about a New Year, a resolution is a promise people make to
themselves to be better. The person decides to make a serious effort to do
something over the next 12 months.
promise:
promesa; people make to themselves: (que la) gente se hace; to be
better: para mejorar, para estar mejor; a serious effort: un esfuerzo
serio, formal; over the next: durante los siguientes;
Many people use the start of a new year as a time to try something new or change
something about themselves. This use of resolution dates back to the late 1700s.
These earlier resolutions were usually of a religious nature.
the start:
el comienzo; as a time to try: como el momento de probar; dates back
to the late 1700s: data de los años 1700; earlier: primeras, antiguas;
were usually: eran por lo general; of a religious nature: de carácter
religioso;
However, these days, New Year’s resolutions are usually about living healthier,
having more success and finding greater satisfaction in life.
however:
sin embargo; these days: hoy en día; living healthier: vivir más
sano; having more success: tener más éxito; finding greater:
encontrar mayor;
So, some common New Year’s resolutions are to:
-- lose weight,
-- exercise more,
-- keep in contact with family and friends,
-- stop smoking,
-- save money,
-- go back to school,
-- cut back on alcohol,
-- or get more or better sleep.
common:
comunes, típicas; lose weight: perder peso, adelgazar; exercise more:
hacer más ejercicio; keep in contact with: mantenerse en contacto con;
stop smoking: dejar de fumar; save money: ahorrar dinero; go back
to school: completar estudios; cut back on alcohol: reducir el
consumo de bebidas alcohólicas; get more or better sleep: dormir más o
mejor;
Some people may make a New Year’s resolution to improve only one area of their
life. Others may feel they need to completely change everything. These people
may use the New Year as a time
to turn over a
new leaf! Turning over a new leaf means
to make a change and behave in a more responsible manner.
to improve: para
mejorar; area: parte, zona; may feel they need: pueden sentir que
necesitan; to turn over a new leaf: empezar una nueva etapa, hacer borrón
y cuenta nueva (literalmente: dar una vuelta de página); behave:
comportarse; in a more responsible manner: de manera más responsable;
At the start of a New Year, you can
wipe the slate
clean. This means you can simply wash
away all the mistakes you made from the past year, as one would remove chalk
from a school black board.
wipe the slate clean:
arrancar de nuevo (literalmente: borrar todo lo escrito en la pizarra); wash
away: borrar, eliminar; the mistakes you made: los errores que
cometiste; remove chalk: borrar la tiza; black board: pizarrón,
tablero;
Just remember that before you
start from a
clean slate, learn from the mistakes
you made.
So, for many people the New Year is a good
time for a fresh start.
start from a
clean slate: comenzar de cero (literalmente: comenzar con la pizarra limpia);
a fresh start: un nuevo comienzo, una nueva vida;
Still, many people do not make New Year’s resolutions. They do not want to put
added pressure on themselves. Or they are happy with what they are doing and how
their lives are progressing.
still: no
obstante; to put added pressure on themselves: no desean sumarse
presiones extras; their lives are progressing: sus vidas están
progresando;
And some people may think that there is no reason to try so hard to change
yourself. They may agree with the old saying that
a leopard never changes its
spots. This means you are born as you are born and no amount
of effort can change that.
may think that:
puede pensar que; there is no reason: no hay motivo; to try so hard to
change: para intentar cambiar tan drásticamente; may agree with:
pueden estar de acuerdo con; the old saying: el antiguo refrán; a
leopard never changes its spots: su genio y figura no cambian hasta la
sepultura (literalmente: el leopardo no cambia/muda sus manchas); you are
born as you are born: uno nace como nace; no amount of effort: ningún
nivel de esfuerzo;
After all, change can be hard. Getting up early to exercise every day is hard.
Setting aside time every day to learn a new language or musical instrument is
not easy.
hard:
agotador; setting aside time every day: reservar diariamente tiempo;
As we get older, it might be even more difficult for people to change their
behavior. Maybe that’s why we say, “You
can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
as we get older: a
medida que envejecemos; you can't teach an old dog new tricks: loro viejo
no aprende a hablar (literalmente: no puedes enseñarle nuevos trucos a un perro
viejo).
I’m Anna Matteo. Have a Happy New Year! |
