It’s that time of year again, folks. Haul out your paper and sharpen your pencil. You’ve gotta start writing down those New Year’s Resolutions.
Many people decide they want to exercise regularly, lose weight, eat healthier, get organized, get out of debt, quit smoking or drinking, spend more time with family, or do volunteer work. (Those are the top goals that people annually set.) I’ve set goals in some of those areas, too. I’m a great sheep in following the crowd.
I’m going to pat myself on the back for exercising regularly. (Pat. pat.) For the last 16 years, I have gotten up at 5:15 a.m. to run, cross country ski, power walk, or use the elliptical exercise machine. (I will add the Wii Fitness Plus to my routine since Santa brought that for Christmas.) I must admit that I have taken breaks on important holidays like Nutella Day (Feb. 5), Wicket World of Croquet Day (June 12), and Elephant Appreciation Day (Sept. 22).
I think exercising regularly is a habit now. I’m glad. I think I’m healthier because of it. Well, at least that is what I am deluding myself into thinking as I munch on Rollos and caramels.
But my other New Year’s resolutions? They are like the ocean’s tide — they come crashing and pounding in with a vengeance on January 1st then slowly fade away into the sunset. Some years, I’m so disgusted with myself that I never set any. Then half way through the year, I’m disgusted with myself because I didn’t set any so I set some in July. Then I get disgusted with myself in August (instead of February) when I fall off the goal wagon.
Am I going to set some this year? Yeah. I hate that mid-year self-loathing. I am hereby publicly declaring my New Year’s Resolutions in absolutely no particular order of importance.
- Have more parties. (This goal arrives on my list on a regular basis. But this year, I really AM going to have more parties! Really. I am. I’ve already put them on my calendar.)
- Stop clenching my teeth when I accompany the choir or play the organ for a church meeting. (Laugh not, oh skeptical reader. This will be very difficult for me to do. Very. Clenching my teeth is what I do when I’m nervous in those situations.)
Pretty lofty goals, eh?
Actually, those are GREAT goals. I just might have to copy you. I hate the “exercise” and “lose weight” goals. Guess I just don’t care enough. But more parties is something I can connect to. And the teeth clenching, although mine isn’t just when anxious, but almost always. Hmm, how to stop?
How to stop? I’m going to chew gum. Real lady-like and appropriate for worshiping, huh?