Resolutions

I know that there are some people that think that making New Year’s resolutions is silly. “Why do you need a certain day to decide to get going on some self-improvement?” they say. Well, I’ll tell you why. I am a master procrastinator. When presented with a task that I don’t particularly relish, I am incredibly adept at creating and justifying excuses to avoid said task.

For example: Vacuuming. It needs to be done. No denying it. But if I do it now, before company comes, then they will just make it all dirty again anyway. I should do it after. I will do it after... But after, I’m too tired. I’ll just rest a bit on the couch and re-energize, then I will vacuum... But now the kids are asleep. Wouldn’t want to wake them up. I’ll do it in the morning... But in the morning the kids are having such a fun time on the floor that I wouldn’t want to disturb them. I’ll do it later... And so on. Obviously, I do vacuum my floor. Equally obvious is the fact that it doesn’t get done as often as it probably should.

This is just an example, and no, I did not resolve to vacuum more often. But now you see why creating a New Years resolution can be a good idea. It is a definitive, undeniable, non-negotiable time to get started.

This year, I made some hefty ones. It’s going to be a big year. First and foremost is “Patience”. I resolve to have it, use it, harness it and create an endless supply of it. As opposed to trying it, wearing it thin and losing it. I will accept that not everyone can read my mind and I will attempt to help others understand that my abilities in that field are sorely lacking as well – in a patient manner. I will parent my children with infinite patience despite the fact that I have STILL not managed to locate the manual that came with the darn things. If you find it, let me know. I have had more than one emergency patience-tester in which it would have come in handy. I will wave in a friendly manner to infuriating motorists rather than saluting them with only one finger. (Just kidding, I’m too afraid of a lunatic with road rage driving me off the road to actually follow through with that particular urge. But I think it sometimes, which is just as bad. So I will wave to them in my thoughts instead.) Ahhh, patience.

Resolution number two is fitness related and unspecific. I simply want to do my best. I want to exercise at every opportunity and fuel my body with a higher ratio of healthy food than unhealthy (which I usually do anyway, but doesn’t hurt to include it on the list). I want to push my limits of endurance so that I can find out what I am really capable of. I want to sweat once a day, and not just because I’m wearing too many sweaters.  I DON’T want to make a fool of myself at the World Master’s Swimming Championships. So I will do all of these things. Then, I can look back and honestly say without a shadow of a doubt that I did my best.

And that’s it. I figure that’s enough for now. I have my work cut out for me, especially with the Patience one. I’ll let you know how it goes.