Raise your hand if you’ve ever kept a New Year’s resolution, past, say, January 20th? You have? You are more rare than the chicken that gave me food poisoning. I’ve never made it past January 12th. Or maybe I have - sometimes I don’t remember what I’ve resolved. It’s possible I resolved to eat more cake last year and that certainly occurred.
I always feel so glib and self-satisfied when I make these yearly pledges, and yet every year, they fall to pieces like meringue cookies too long in the Christmas tin. And here we go again, flicking through our failures in hopes of lighting on something we can will to change, somehow hoisting ourselves up by our bootstraps this year, as opposed to our pathetic attempts of 2012.
So in the interest of not lining the pockets of Zoloft shareholders, I thought, why not resolve to do something I know I’m going to do anyway? Kind of like making a to-do list and writing things you’ve already done, just to get that smidge of a buzz when crossing said item off the list. Snigger all you want, but you know I’m not the only person who does that.
So here we go:
lose 15 pounds (nope)
exercise 7 times a week (nope)
exercise 4 times a week (nope)
feel no guilt for not exercising 7 times a week (yup)
send all thank you notes within 24 hours (nope)
don’t fall asleep whilst praying (nope)
floss every time you brush (nope)
floss at some point, maybe the week before the dentist even though this doesn’t trick her (yup)
put away folded laundry before doing new laundry (nope)
stop complaining about being tired/busy (maybe)
file stuff (nope)
don’t speed (nope)
wake up everyday with a smile (nope)
kiss husband and children every day (yup)
keep a diary, because I’m that interesting (nope)
figure out Twitter (nope)
Not too shabby. I think I can handle this list.
But perhaps there’s another way to look at this year in preview. Instead of a list of copious and unobtainable to-dos, a couple friends of mine focus on a theme each year instead. For some, it’s a spiritual attribute, like patience. Every time a situation, which calls for patience arises, it brings my friend to thought and prayer. Suddenly waiting in line at the DMV is still horrid, but not so horrid.
For others, it’s just a concept, like “organize.” For this friend, it doesn’t stop at cleaning out the linen closet, it’s also about getting the proverbial ducks in order, streamlining, so he can enjoy more of life and less stuff.
So instead of making a long list of things I’m not going to do, no matter my Dec. 31st intentions, I’ve decided to make 2013 a year of real intention. I’m going to make a revolution instead of a resolution. Stay tuned, to find out what that is (it involves airplanes – intrigued?), but in the meantime, what are you resolving, wishing for, focusing on, hoping to accomplish this year? Do tell, and let’s hope 13 isn’t an unlucky number…
I always feel so glib and self-satisfied when I make these yearly pledges, and yet every year, they fall to pieces like meringue cookies too long in the Christmas tin. And here we go again, flicking through our failures in hopes of lighting on something we can will to change, somehow hoisting ourselves up by our bootstraps this year, as opposed to our pathetic attempts of 2012.
So in the interest of not lining the pockets of Zoloft shareholders, I thought, why not resolve to do something I know I’m going to do anyway? Kind of like making a to-do list and writing things you’ve already done, just to get that smidge of a buzz when crossing said item off the list. Snigger all you want, but you know I’m not the only person who does that.
So here we go:
lose 15 pounds (nope)
exercise 7 times a week (nope)
exercise 4 times a week (nope)
feel no guilt for not exercising 7 times a week (yup)
send all thank you notes within 24 hours (nope)
don’t fall asleep whilst praying (nope)
floss every time you brush (nope)
floss at some point, maybe the week before the dentist even though this doesn’t trick her (yup)
put away folded laundry before doing new laundry (nope)
stop complaining about being tired/busy (maybe)
file stuff (nope)
don’t speed (nope)
wake up everyday with a smile (nope)
kiss husband and children every day (yup)
keep a diary, because I’m that interesting (nope)
figure out Twitter (nope)
Not too shabby. I think I can handle this list.
But perhaps there’s another way to look at this year in preview. Instead of a list of copious and unobtainable to-dos, a couple friends of mine focus on a theme each year instead. For some, it’s a spiritual attribute, like patience. Every time a situation, which calls for patience arises, it brings my friend to thought and prayer. Suddenly waiting in line at the DMV is still horrid, but not so horrid.
For others, it’s just a concept, like “organize.” For this friend, it doesn’t stop at cleaning out the linen closet, it’s also about getting the proverbial ducks in order, streamlining, so he can enjoy more of life and less stuff.
So instead of making a long list of things I’m not going to do, no matter my Dec. 31st intentions, I’ve decided to make 2013 a year of real intention. I’m going to make a revolution instead of a resolution. Stay tuned, to find out what that is (it involves airplanes – intrigued?), but in the meantime, what are you resolving, wishing for, focusing on, hoping to accomplish this year? Do tell, and let’s hope 13 isn’t an unlucky number…
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