To Resolve or Not to Resolve

I have been hearing less and less about people and their New Years’ resolutions.  Either folks are keeping them close to the vest and not spewing forth their intentions to the general public in the event that things don’t go as planned and the entirety of their resolve lasts only 6.5 minutes, or they don’t bother to make them at all.

Personally I think it might be that we just don’t choose the things that actually can be accomplished in a timely manner.  Or, we make rash decisions.  For example one year I thought, “Yes, I could certainly stand to lose a few pounds”, which was my declaration to stage all out battle on my lumps and bumps.  However, I realize now that this thought came to me after I was contemplating life and love whilst indulging in an assortment of holiday treats.  I wasn’t of clear conscience and I fear the sugar might have been affecting my ability to think rationally in the hopes that the 38 cookies, 14 chocolate kisses and 3 pieces of fudge (that I felt obliged to try to not make the hostess feel badly) I had just consumed would somehow magically melt away, immediately.  Like that would happen.

Then, there was the time I thought my New Year’s resolution should include being nicer to people.  Sounds good in theory, however it didn’t work out so well.  I think this one lasted 2 days and my patience with humankind dwindled to the point of reverting back to self-preservation.  I was thinking that if I had met some others with the same resolution it would have worked out much better, but it was my luck not to.

Even though the general interest in making the proverbial personal pronouncement for the forthcoming year is on the decline, and with my history of near misses, I am still willing to give it the old college try.

I came up with parameters that may help me succeed: don’t go crazy… stick to only one or two alternatives that have an ample ability to succeed; make it something I actually want to do; follow the KISS method religiously – anything too tricky can and will be forgotten by morning.  By utilizing these simple steps, I have been able to eliminate such standard resolution fair as exercising, losing weight and being kinder to my fellow man (or woman as the case may be).  By minimizing the playing field of alternatives, I feel that I am off to a good start and perhaps even mastery of this fine art of doggedness this year.

Under the tutelage of my above-stated structure, I am happy to report that after careful deliberation and consideration of my resolutions of choice and the possible obstacles that could deter me from the goal, I think I have honed in on a possibility of a decree that I actually think will work.

My resolution for the new year is to read more books and enhance and increase my daily vocabulary of useable and useful words.  All those stacks of literature that have been sitting around the house and collecting dust yet always ready and willing are at my beck and call.

I have hopes of mystery in the morning, sordid romance in the afternoons and intrigue in the evening… the possibilities are endless.

Although my chosen path this year may leave me (still) fat and sassy, I think I finally found something that I can find success with and as an added bonus give me the promise of quiet times curled up with a tale that expands the horizons of my existence and will take me places I never knew I wanted to go.  Can’t get any better than that.  Here’s wishing you happy resolutions for 2007.

Cynthia A. McClelland, curious observer of the obvious with interpretations of the oddities of daily life.  Mother, wife and lover of the furry, resides in the north Lake Tahoe area.

Cynthia A. McClelland © 2003-