For my first blog post last year, I shared my thoughts on not making any resolutions for the new year. Now we're in 2017, and my intention remains firm... so in case you missed it last year, here's what I had to say about remaining irresolute in the new year...
Years ago -- so many years ago now I don't remember exactly when -- I resolved not to make any more New Year's Resolutions.
That was one New Year's Resolution that I've been able to keep. In that dimly remembered past when I did make them, I never wrote them down, and consequently they became ephemeral. I resolved, therefore, to eschew resolutions.
Now, I could take the easy way out every January 1st and make resolutions that I know will keep because they are part of what I have to do in order to pay the mortgage and buy cat food. Like "I resolve to write two books this year" or "I resolve to go to my full-time job every day."
That would be cheating, of course, because resolving to do what you have to do anyway is not the point of New Year's Resolutions.
New Year's Resolutions usually have reform or improvement as the outcome. Like, I resolve to go to the gym three days a week and become healthier and more fit. I've been going to the gym on average three days a week for four years now -- and when I started, it wasn't because of a formal resolution. I was just tired of having no energy and not enough arm strength to lift more than one book at a time -- which, for a librarian and avid book collector is a distinct problem.
Sure, maybe I resolved to go to the gym regularly back in January 2012, but I didn't write it down on New Year's Day or at any point. I just did it. Resolve is, after all, an intention, an objective, a purpose -- at least according to a thesaurus.
I guess you say I have intentions or objectives or a purpose. Just don't call them New Year's Resolutions, because I resolved never to have those ever again.
And now, back to 2017... if I were to resolve to do anything in particular for this new year, it would be to stick to my diet, be more self-disciplined with writing, and to get my house organized after living in it for 19 months...
Check back with me in 2018, and I'll let you know how it went.
I never make resolutions, either. I have goals, which I may or may not reach.
Posted by: Charlaine Harris | January 04, 2017 at 05:16 AM
I think that's the sensible approach, Charlaine.
Posted by: Dean James | January 04, 2017 at 05:35 AM
Every January I come back to this quote from Mark Twain (who is always good for a quote):
New Year's Day--Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.
Posted by: Mark | January 04, 2017 at 08:29 AM