resolutions

Once upon a time, long ago (aka: before kids), I loved to make new year's resolutions. LOVED it. I relished the time spent pondering what areas of my life could use improvement & progress and I loved to challenge myself with lofty goals. And to take it one step further than your "typical" resolution-maker I would categorize my goals, make monthly charts, check the boxes as I accomplished a goal and then calculate the percentage of success at the end of the month. A little extreme, I know. Type A, I get it. But I loved it! I wasn't entirely rigid--I was extremely satisfied with a 70% overall monthly score. I did this for years. (Side note: one of the things that attracted me to my husband-to-be was that he actually did the same thing...while we were dating.)

That was long ago. Then, when we had our kids, some of my goals became more simplified (still categorized) but more attainable, more about the kids. And then, I don't know how or when, but somehow I got down to making only one lousy goal a year: "I pledge to shower every day" or "I pledge to eat more than just Cheerios all day long" or "I pledge to read more than just Saturday's Warriors as my scripture base." You get the idea. One year I just gave up all together and didn't even make a resolution.

However, this year I'm feeling it again, but different. Maybe it's age, or the climate of the world these days, but I want my goals to be deeper, more heart felt and less about percentages. Merriam-Webster lists resolution as: a firmness of decision, and lists the synonym as courage. This struck me for some reason. I never thought of needing courage when keeping a resolution. The general authorities say that in proving courage one is faced with pressure; sometimes an outside pressure, or a social pressure or pressures of a personal appetite. Charles Dubois says: "Courage is being able to sacrifice what we are for what we could become." What can we do if our determination crumbles under the pressure? Repent. In other words, and in the context of specifically new year's resolutions, you can always start a new--not just in January. Like the orange juice commercial, "Resolutions. They're not just for January anymore." Catchy no? I digress.

So, this year I made some resolutions, and even categorized them, but they are truer to my heart than in years past. Shakespeare said: “To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.” (Hamlet)

• I pledge to strive to live with such candid honesty that I may be able to say (when the occasion permits): "I wish I could, but I don't want to" instead of making excuses.


• I pledge to eliminate soda from my diet altogether (this one's actually easier than you might think--I hate the stuff).


• I pledge to show appreciation for my neighbors and to be more aware of their needs.


• I pledge to sell or give to charity all the crap in my house that is outdated or that I can no longer stand.


• I pledge to respect myself more by defending positions important to me & by allowing some "me time" a few times a month.


• I pledge to strive to see our marriage through my husband's eyes; improving my words & behavior as a result (I'm sure).

What's your resolutions?