I Resolve to Not Make a Resolution

I might have been about 7 years old on New Year's Eve when the video camera was on me and I was asked what my resolution was going to be. After thinking for a quick moment, I responded that I was going to stop biting my nails. Fast forward 19 years and I still have this gross and disgusting habit. Resolution failed. Since then, I really can't remember ever making another resolution. In fact, I'd been pretty adamant not to make one.

Not to sound cliché, but people sure know how to talk the talk but do the ever really walk the walk? Maybe they take two steps and sit right back down in their bathrobe to have that third donut. Every year, you resolve to transform yourself, not necessarily into perfection, but definitely into that successful, fit, charming and patient person. I'm all for turning over a new leaf in the New Year, but do you think that starting the day after the biggest party of the year, a completely new lifestyle is going to stay? Let's give ourselves some time to recuperate.

Let's go ahead and say that you resolve to quit smoking, or to work out every day, or to be more patient and caring of others. Three to five days go by and you lose your temper, or you sneak that cigarette. Resolution failed and you think to yourself, "There’s always next year". There's too much pressure around a resolution and let's face it, it'll never stick. Not to be a pessimist, but we all know this is the case.

Here's what I say, screw the resolutions and let's make a change on our own time. Why wait for a new year to change ourselves for the better? Start a gradual change, eat healthy when you can and after a few weeks of feeling pretty good, get yourself some more exercise. If you screw up and have that chocolate cake or sleep in and lay on the couch instead of that spin class, who cares? Tomorrow is a new day and that's the great thing about life. Every morning we wake up and the sun is shining ready for us to make of it what we please. Start over. Don't wait another 11 months to make that change, start again. Be the "do-er" in your life, in your family, in your social circle and your motivation and consistent perseverance could be an inspiration to someone else.

The only thing a new year is good for is one hell of an overpriced party and three weeks of writing the wrong date. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you shouldn't make a resolution, but perhaps why not set some goals for the New Year instead? You have time to work toward it, something to strive for, and won't experience the immediate failure of trying to be the "perfect" you.   The year isn’t ruined and the world didn’t end but we aren’t getting any younger.  Let’s grab life by the horns and just have fun while being the new and improved you when you can.