Resolutions
Well, it’s New Year’s Day. Although I really love Chinese food, I generally celebrate the New Year with the rest of the world. No offense. Since it’s New Year’s Day, I think it’s appropriate to discuss my N.Y.R. (New Year’s Resolutions).
NYR
I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions. I hate the idea. Yes, I realize that it can be helpful to have some sort of milestone to remind you to take stock of the way you’re living…but I resist the urge to do it now. Why should the calendar dictate when I can reevaluate my life? Why should I think about making changes now, instead of in April or August? Why do we wait until the fridge is full of yummy-but-bad-for-you leftovers to diet? Why do we wait until January 1st to decide that we should stop procrastinating?
I’m typing this in my bathrobe. At 11:30 am. I haven’t had breakfast, and of course I haven’t showered yet. I have, though, had a number of cookies in lieu of an actual meal. I’ve organized nothing today, and I haven’t even started on the work project I should have completed by now. Yes, I’m a slug…but I’m not one of those slugs who makes resolutions that he doesn’t keep.
It’s not that I’ve never made resolutions. I just don’t do it at the beginning of a new year. A while back, I asked myself an important question:
What two things would you like to change?
I made the same two resolutions for 5 years. The first is obvious to anyone who knows me: to lose some weight. I’m not morbidly obese, but I am approaching maximum density. I’d like to be healthier…so that’s an ongoing battle. The second has been off my list for several years now: to have a gentle answer. I used to be hurtfully sarcastic, and wanted to stop. I believe that I’ve conquered that beast…but it took 5 years to feel like it was completely behind me.
I haven’t lost the weight, so that’s still on the list. I’ve been working more on it recently, and expect the scale to breathe a sigh of relief pretty soon. I haven’t replaced ‘a gentle answer’ yet…but I will. I just have to take the time to ask myself that question again.
Maybe I’ll do it tomorrow.