I used to be into the rah rah of New Year’s. I would form a hyper-enthusiastic pyramid of hope and prosperity along with all the folks in Times Square pledging that this would be the “Best Year Ever.” I had this type of New Year’s in the turning of 2006. Interestingly, this happened to be the year I couldn’t shake a staph infection and wound up in the Center for Infectious Disease Control. It is also the year I lost both my parents to cancer. I am not waxing cynical here, I am just saying that even with the greatest of intentions, the boldest of resolutions, the grandest of New Year’s plans … life unfolds in a year, good and bad.
My friend Neill used to say that every year he copied and pasted the next year’s resolutions from the year before. His argument was that it saved time from re-creating crap he might try to do but wouldn’t or couldn’t sustain. When we compared lists, I asked that he copy and paste for me too. I am pasting a similar list below to save you some steps in case you want to use our handy dandy, Norelco insta-resolutions…
(1) Eat less;
(2) Drink less;
(3) Curse less;
(4) Be less judgmental;
(5) Be more forgiving;
(6) Be smarter and richer;
(7) Rescue kittens from danger;
(8) Exercise with consistency;
(9) Follow the Golden Rule;
(10) Drive slower.
Please don’t get me wrong here, I love the beginning of a new year. I am an officer in the nerd brigade and a clean calendar is like a brand new composition book on the first day of school. It is full of possibility with all those blank pages hungry to be filled with life.
In my office hangs a brand new dream board complete with goals and pictures of inspiration as I chomp off a bite of 2011. This dream board is meaningful to my daughters and me. It keeps us focused on our family ~ keeps us reaching towards good things in our life. It works with our strengths. What it is not is a random list where we commit to correcting all of our faults. It isn’t copied and pasted from 2010. It is as new and fresh as the year itself and while the board aspires to the good; it can be revised and changed. The board knows that striving for perfection isn’t the point, rather the joy lies in the dreaming and the living. It is the journey and the traveling companions that make the year’s difference.
2011 ~ Day two. So far this year, I have spilled an entire cup of coffee on my kitchen floor; attended the funeral of someone who died too young, (a shepherd of a guy with the heart of a giant;) woke up with a zit on my nose that could eclipse the sun; made two trips to the grocery store; asked both of my daughters “Why are you laughing?” AND “Why are you crying?” I overcooked some eggs and undercooked some ribs. I have also snuggled with my daughters; belly laughed; listened to live bag pipes; nuzzled my pups; drank my favorite wine; smooched my smokin’ hot love toy.
Happy New Year! May this be the year that you are short on resolutions and deep on resolve.