Christmas holiday with the family was very nice. Presents were wrapped, food was great, and visit was congenial. Now for facing the new year.
This time each year we pull out our tablets and write down impossible "resolutions" - from loosing 50 pounds to quiting smoking and everything in between. I've been contemplating this tradition of bringing in the year and wonder if, just one time, wouldn't it be best to set obtainable goals? Then next NYE we could sit back and reflect on the success that was had in meeting them.
To that end, there are always the ones about being a "better person" and striving to help others in need (note that one is not measurable, unless we can identify people in need that we can help - there are alwyas needs that could be met, but am I able at any given time?). Helping others is also a nebulous goal - how do you define "helpful?" Certainly giving money to people who are down and out would be fine, everyone I know could use a hand up. Would it be better to help find employment (the old adage: "teach a man to fish...")?
My favorite is vowing to "lose weight" - again, we need to be specific and should be measurable. Therefore, my goal this year is to lose the 10 pounds I gained last year after starting work. That should be do-able - right? I found them so why not shed them? Of course, it took the better part of 2 years to get rid of them the last time. What's the point?
I have made one goal public - to run the Indy Mini in 2:15 (or less). To make that happen I must (a) train on a routine basis, (b) lose about10 pounds, and (c) have great weather on the day of the run. The first two are under my control - we will see what happens.
Other than that, I have decided to not take chances when I can control the situation (like today - very windy, snowing on and off, and slippery roads so I didn't drive to Metropolis - I will go tomorrow). I would like to believe I will control my dietary habits and try to convert them to healtful servings, but that likely won't happen routinely. I like the bad stuff.
One more goal - to keep my Christmas decorations up until March. I like the way they look, and I don't see them all the time (they are here and I work there). Perhaps the correlary would be to keep the house clean, but that won't happen.
"Yesterday everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink and swore his last oath. Today, we are a pious and exemplary community. Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever." ~Mark Twain
