By Regena Handy
So did you do it, make a new year’s resolution, that is? Whereas some of us agree that it is kind of a pointless tradition—I mean, really, how long do we actually keep them—we still tend to set such goals.
While the whole idea is a bit frivolous, apparently from what I’ve read over the years, the making of resolutions is actually rooted historically in ancient practices. Though it is more common in the western hemisphere, the ritual is found in other parts of the world, as well.
Resolutions seem to cluster around a handful of general themes. Such as the one to improve our physical condition which includes everything from healthy eating to exercising to losing weight. This has been number one on my list for about three decades now—just imagine, if I had lost only one pound for each of those years, I’d be 30 pounds lighter!!!.
Often objectives are of a financial nature: get out of debt, spend less, save more. Then there are those expansive goals for living: be more positive, be happy, live every day, enjoy life to the fullest.
All worthy ambitions, right. The problem it seems is that lots of us—and I put myself at the top of that list—set broad, unrealistically high standards to be reached in a short period of time. I’m told by people in the know that gym membership enrollment rises drastically in January but attendance quickly falls off in ensuing months. Think about it—is the goal to lose 50 pounds by a summer wedding or the upcoming class reunion realistic?
Or if the hope is to spend less, without a specific plan in place to make that happen, all will be for naught when that pair of expensive shoes you wanted but don’t need goes on sale. Some of us will whip out that credit card so fast it will leave behind a trail of smoke.
(Let me quickly interject here that all these resolutions are doable, they can be achieved, but not without a lot of effort. I sincerely applaud anyone who can meet their goals.)
Though here’s one I heard of that kind of had me scratching my head. One person’s goal was to fall in love in the upcoming year. Hmmm, I’ve been married a long time so maybe I don’t know how things work anymore, but is falling in love on a specific timetable something you just decide to do now?
Speaking of short term resolutions, I have a friend who may have set a world record. Several years ago at a New Year’s Eve gathering, guests were talking about their goals when the friend shared that she intended to stop making fun of other people. No more than five minutes into the new year, she made a wisecrack about someone else in the room. The look on her face when she realized what she had done was priceless.
Since I never seem to achieve any of the resolutions I make, I’ve decided to just put one thing on my list this year. And I think I can reach that goal. Here it is.
Stop making resolutions.
