Resolution Time
I always thought that making a list of New Year Resolutions was a bunch of hooey. "Why disappoint yourself, year in and year out," was my thought on the matter. "You're gonna make 'em, you're gonna break 'em. Case closed."
Things change, though. Two years ago, I watched as my wife made a list of resolutions and slowly but surely tackled them. She didn't get them all done, but she was able to meet some very impressive goals. Her goals included climbing to the top of Yosemite's Half Dome, and learning to rock climb. She knocked both of those out on the same trip. Let's be clear, though. She did not rock climb to the top of Half Dome. She's SuperJen, but she's not that super.
I was impressed, and I decided to make my own list of resolutions. I don't think that I was able to keep any of those resolutions. I can't find them, and quite honestly, there was a certain topsy-turviness to this year that made me abandon the resolutions entirely. I don't think that I abandoned them with the attitude of "why bother, I'm not going to meet them," but instead, I saw them as something to point me in the right direction. While I couldn't get it together to actually fulfill my goals, I was able to see my way toward those goals.
I know that one of my resolutions had to do with writing. I wanted to write and submit two short stories this year, and that didn't get done. (If I were a foolhardy optimist, I'd look at the calendar and say "why, December's not even half-over! There's plenty of time to submit!") What I did do, however, was start a weblog, with the encouragement of a number of people, and I think that I slowly began to find my voice as a writer. That was a good thing. I majored in Creative Writing in college, and people told me that I had a knack for it. I dismissed their compliments--not directly, but just in my own mind. Why? I dunno. Low self-esteem. Maybe I thought that they were "just being nice."
At any rate, I see now that we make resolutions in order to challenge ourselves, to give ourselves goals, to make our lives interesting and meaningful. Hopefully, along the way, we learn something about ourselves that will make us better people.
If anything, the list of last year's failed resolutions will help me decide what to take on this year. Writing resolutions is just like anything else you try in life. You only learn to get better with trial and error, and practice. I've never been great about the goal-setting, but I think that it's been fun to try to set goals and meet them. I know from this last year that I need to work on time-management. This is something that I've always been bad at, and it's something that I've known about for years. Looking at my failed resolutions though, I think that I can't avoid tackling this any longer. Frittered time and ill-focused energy will only serve to cause failure in my life. (That sounds like something you'd find in a fortune cookie).
More on the resolution thing later, when I have the time to write about it.
Things change, though. Two years ago, I watched as my wife made a list of resolutions and slowly but surely tackled them. She didn't get them all done, but she was able to meet some very impressive goals. Her goals included climbing to the top of Yosemite's Half Dome, and learning to rock climb. She knocked both of those out on the same trip. Let's be clear, though. She did not rock climb to the top of Half Dome. She's SuperJen, but she's not that super.
I was impressed, and I decided to make my own list of resolutions. I don't think that I was able to keep any of those resolutions. I can't find them, and quite honestly, there was a certain topsy-turviness to this year that made me abandon the resolutions entirely. I don't think that I abandoned them with the attitude of "why bother, I'm not going to meet them," but instead, I saw them as something to point me in the right direction. While I couldn't get it together to actually fulfill my goals, I was able to see my way toward those goals.
I know that one of my resolutions had to do with writing. I wanted to write and submit two short stories this year, and that didn't get done. (If I were a foolhardy optimist, I'd look at the calendar and say "why, December's not even half-over! There's plenty of time to submit!") What I did do, however, was start a weblog, with the encouragement of a number of people, and I think that I slowly began to find my voice as a writer. That was a good thing. I majored in Creative Writing in college, and people told me that I had a knack for it. I dismissed their compliments--not directly, but just in my own mind. Why? I dunno. Low self-esteem. Maybe I thought that they were "just being nice."
At any rate, I see now that we make resolutions in order to challenge ourselves, to give ourselves goals, to make our lives interesting and meaningful. Hopefully, along the way, we learn something about ourselves that will make us better people.
If anything, the list of last year's failed resolutions will help me decide what to take on this year. Writing resolutions is just like anything else you try in life. You only learn to get better with trial and error, and practice. I've never been great about the goal-setting, but I think that it's been fun to try to set goals and meet them. I know from this last year that I need to work on time-management. This is something that I've always been bad at, and it's something that I've known about for years. Looking at my failed resolutions though, I think that I can't avoid tackling this any longer. Frittered time and ill-focused energy will only serve to cause failure in my life. (That sounds like something you'd find in a fortune cookie).
More on the resolution thing later, when I have the time to write about it.
3 Comments:
I've never really thought of new year resolutions like this. I've always been part of the "why bother" group. This has definately given me food for thought.
Oh, yeah, Esther. Go for it. Start small. Don't do those candy-ass pie-in-the-sky resolutions like "I'm going to quit smoking forever." Be realistic. Try quitting for a week, then a month, then however long. Make incremental progress. Build confidence and be satisfied with yourself...not disappointed. Good luck. If you don't smoke, perhaps you should resolve to try starting. Begin with one smoke a week. Try working up to about two or three packs!
(BTW, are you the Kaballah Madonna Esther, or some other Esther? I love imagining that celebrities are stalking my blog! Sure, I accused JLo of being a no-talent starfucker, but I'll wear that crown with pride!)
*chuckle*
I already smoke but seeing as you're talking about realistic goals, I'll focus on losing weight ;)
Sorry to disappoint you but I'm not the kaballah madonna one, the woman stole my name!!
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