You Say You Want A Resolution

It’s that time of year again.

Do you remember the resolutions you made last year? You can just copy and paste them into this year because you didn’t do them then and you won’t do them now.

We all have the things we would love to change about ourselves. Eat less bad stuff, exercise more, get more sleep, be nicer to strangers, etc. are all good and noble wishes but seem far from accomplishments.

The goal to better ourselves is a healthy aspiration for a to-do list, but… We really want to try and change our attitudes and bad habits, but… No matter how many gym bags and running shoes and odd appliances or personal trainers there will be cold weather and comfort food and late night movies.

We hibernate during the cold months and in the spring a few will try but will fail. We have the best intensions but daily distractions and interruptions persuade us to wander down the chips aisle instead.

Now don’t get down. We just are ill equipped to reach our dreams. We somehow seem to be able to get a job that will pay us enough to buy that new car and a washer/dryer unit and take a foreign vacation. We can break hearts with ease and fail to provide for our children. We can lose our hair and wear stretch pants without a second thought, but these are not our resolutions.

Maybe we should just get realistic and not be so worried about changing our habits but changing our outlook on life. Instead of buying a yoga pad we will never use perhaps we can spend some time volunteering at the local soup kitchen? Instead of trolling comments on political sites become activists and get involved in your preferences? Instead of posting cute pictures of kittens on the social media volunteer at a shelter or adopt? Instead of taking a luxury cruise maybe sponsor a refugee family?

They are your resolutions. Check them twice. Wouldn’t it be nice at the end of the year to celebrate your accomplishments?