New Year’s Eve is known primarily for two things: drinking more than usual and making resolutions for the upcoming year. And the two are very closely related.
Often a person is enjoying a New Year’s Eve party and someone will ask, “So, what resolutions have you made?” And you respond, “Why, none. I forgot all about it.”
“Well, it’s not too late,” they say, which results in you scrambling with one hour left until midnight. At this point, you’re several drinks to the good and feeling especially strong and competent. “Make it something difficult,” you tell yourself. “I’m up for a challenge.”
So… You commit to the basics. The “Big Ones.” The ones most people select to make their lives even better. With just a touch of wiggle room, mind you. Like…
“Beginning the day after tomorrow, I’m going to start working out and get into better shape.”
This resolution confirms why December and January are the two best months to own a fitness center. The membership dollars come pouring in accompanied by brisk sales in Spandex, power bars and wrist-band heart monitors. So that, by early-February, the staff is back to working with the “regulars” and telling the new members they can’t return Spandex once it’s been abused.
Another “Big One”:
“In 2015, I’m going to be kinder to the people around me. I’ll be more patient, more understanding, and more compassionate to their needs. I’ll be more willing to help others and try to see the world through their eyes.
“Unless, of course, they’re still shitheads like they were this year. Then they can go screw themselves. And, obviously, that will be their fault. Not mine. I tried. But then, I think that’s just common sense, don’t you?”
And how about:
“This coming year I’m going to lose weight. Yup. Lose weight.” But deliberately you don’t establish just how much weight, or the date by which you’ll lose it. Details. Those can be worked out later. You’ve got a year, after all.
And as far as committing to reach a certain dress size or reducing your pant size so many inches, let that be its own reward. Pretty soon you’ll be dropping mountains of clothes off at Goodwill to help your community’s overweight poor become snappier dressers.
Actually, there are several more common resolutions: spending more time with family and friends; stopping the cigarettes; saving money, getting better organized, finding a new job; doing volunteer work within your community, and so on. All of which are good pursuits and all well within your ability to achieve. The dilemma, of course, is sticking to it.
For 2015 I hope every resolution you make comes true. Whatever it may be, believe in yourself and grab a friend or two to share the load. Misery loves company and many resolutions are miserable by the third of January. Except for this year.
If you agree, then you have a few hours yet to make sure the resolution selected is right for you. And if don’t agree, then it might make more sense to just keep drinking this evening and see if you can go back home and “get lucky."
How about that.
Often a person is enjoying a New Year’s Eve party and someone will ask, “So, what resolutions have you made?” And you respond, “Why, none. I forgot all about it.”
“Well, it’s not too late,” they say, which results in you scrambling with one hour left until midnight. At this point, you’re several drinks to the good and feeling especially strong and competent. “Make it something difficult,” you tell yourself. “I’m up for a challenge.”
So… You commit to the basics. The “Big Ones.” The ones most people select to make their lives even better. With just a touch of wiggle room, mind you. Like…
“Beginning the day after tomorrow, I’m going to start working out and get into better shape.”
This resolution confirms why December and January are the two best months to own a fitness center. The membership dollars come pouring in accompanied by brisk sales in Spandex, power bars and wrist-band heart monitors. So that, by early-February, the staff is back to working with the “regulars” and telling the new members they can’t return Spandex once it’s been abused.
Another “Big One”:
“In 2015, I’m going to be kinder to the people around me. I’ll be more patient, more understanding, and more compassionate to their needs. I’ll be more willing to help others and try to see the world through their eyes.
“Unless, of course, they’re still shitheads like they were this year. Then they can go screw themselves. And, obviously, that will be their fault. Not mine. I tried. But then, I think that’s just common sense, don’t you?”
And how about:
“This coming year I’m going to lose weight. Yup. Lose weight.” But deliberately you don’t establish just how much weight, or the date by which you’ll lose it. Details. Those can be worked out later. You’ve got a year, after all.
And as far as committing to reach a certain dress size or reducing your pant size so many inches, let that be its own reward. Pretty soon you’ll be dropping mountains of clothes off at Goodwill to help your community’s overweight poor become snappier dressers.
Actually, there are several more common resolutions: spending more time with family and friends; stopping the cigarettes; saving money, getting better organized, finding a new job; doing volunteer work within your community, and so on. All of which are good pursuits and all well within your ability to achieve. The dilemma, of course, is sticking to it.
For 2015 I hope every resolution you make comes true. Whatever it may be, believe in yourself and grab a friend or two to share the load. Misery loves company and many resolutions are miserable by the third of January. Except for this year.
If you agree, then you have a few hours yet to make sure the resolution selected is right for you. And if don’t agree, then it might make more sense to just keep drinking this evening and see if you can go back home and “get lucky."
How about that.
