New Year's Resolutions and Other Fecal Matter

12/31/2006

It is time to formulate the Resolutions, which in truth is nothing more than the lies we make up at the beginning of a New Year, and almost as quickly as we make them up we (translates to “I”) break them or simply disregard or merely forget them.  This year will be different.

In just about fifteen hours 2006 will come to an end.  This year for me has been one of wonder, excitement and joy.  The reason for this is that this is how I created my year.  There have been moments of sorrow and disappointment, but I chose to honor them and learn from them, and then to move beyond them.  I do not dwell on the past and I refuse to allow it to alter my future.  Now I get to look forward to a New Year of more of the same, but first I have to Resolve to do something…it’s the rule.

I could very easily create a Resolution or two that will allow immediate results, like I Resolve to quit smoking.  That will be an easy one because I haven’t smoked in a very long time.  I could Resolve to reduce my consumption of red meat.  Inasmuch as I have not eaten meat of any kind since August 11, 1995, this will be pretty easily accomplished.  I may be on to something here.  But, alas!  I chose to go for the gusto and Resolve to do other crap. So here goes. 

My first Resolution will be to lose weight and get into shape.  This may sound familiar to some of you: It may be one of your own.  I have made this one probably each year for last three decades.  Last year I dropped about fifteen pounds in the first three months.  I put it back on in about two and added a little for good measure.  I now weigh in a couple of pounds below the 243 I carried in 1989, just prior to my mid-life crisis.  This time I mean business.  If I am true to this one and lose the twenty-five pounds I need to shed, then all the larger clothing I have purchased this year may need to go into storage.  It was much easier to buy bigger stuff than to stop shoveling French Fries in my mouth.  A quick side note in the form of a prayer: God, please don’t let this one be a lie?

My second Resolution is to finish, which really means start, the ever growing list of jobs to be done around this house, such as complete the painting of the basement walls.  I need to clean up some of the tree that fell in a storm back in summer.  I began cutting it in firewood lengths back in August, but got bored and quit about halfway through the job.  I never got back to it – and that supports the saying “Notice how easily ‘not now’ becomes never.” There are more, but we don’t need to dwell on my shortcomings and procrastinations.

My third and final Resolution for 2007 is to do a better job with my job.  January 17, 2007 will be my twenty-fourth anniversary with my company (http://www.virco.com).  There are times when I wonder if I really couldn’t do a better job – you know, do a better job so I feel like I earn what they pay me.  I need to work smarter, but not necessarily harder or longer.  I plan to keep working at least another four years…that is if my boss doesn’t make the decision that I’ve decided to retire early.  I have also committed to playing more golf in 2007.  Keep that part a secret.  What the Boss doesn’t know won’t hurt him.

Three is probably more than I need to declare.  This is a lot of pressure to put on this Hell of a Guy, especially for someone like me, the former poster child for under-achievers.  Perhaps I shouldn’t overburden myself.  I wonder if I should go back and just have one? 

I will have to evaluate the progress toward these Resolutions as the days of 2007 pass.  In my sixty-three years I have made more than a few Resolutions.  I have kept a few of them for a while, made good on…well, none that I can recall.  My track record is not good, except to make Resolutions.  Yoda said, “Do or do not, there is no ‘try’.” The success of my Resolutions will be in proportion to my intent and commitment.  Again, given my track record, my results this time will be exactly what I make them.  The intent is there along with a commitment, all that is needed is “action.” Hmmmm!  I may be on to something here.  Think about it…Intent and commitment with the proper and sustained action will garner the desired result.  Wow!

And that is all I have to say about that…