Just weeks before his death, the “Dawson’s Creek” actor was talking about Spring, fresh starts, and rejecting New Year’s pressure.To fans watching his video, he seemed reflective, even at peace. What no one realized was how painfully personal those words truly were.In a January 16, 2026, Instagram post, James Van Der Beek questioned the timing of resolutions.”In the winter, the days are shorter and the nights are longer. But instead of being reminded how perfect this season is for cocooning, eating stew, snuggling, and sleeping… why are we being told this is the time to buy a gym membership?” he captioned the video.

In the video, he began candidly, “Anyone else out there finding that your New Year’s resolution was impossible to keep? I’m gonna say something: ‘I don’t think it’s your fault. I think it makes total sense.”He continued, “Why are we celebrating a new year in the dead of winter? Why are we celebrating new beginnings at a time when nature rests? Animals are hibernating, and birds fly south for the winter. The time to celebrate a new beginning, and a new you, and a new resolution is in the Spring at the vernal equinox when the flowers bloom, and it gets warmer, and the birds return.”With a grin, he added, “That’s how nature does it. Why are we fighting nature?” I mean, all due respect to Pope Gregory the Eighth, who saddled us with the Gregorian calendar system, but it just makes absolutely no sense.”