Resolving to be Resolute...

So a new year is here, and not a minute too soon. I had a quieter New Year's, which was both bad and good...but it is what it is and now it's over.

2009 sucked a big one. Not something I wish to repeat - or wish on anyone else, really. There were flashes of greatness, flashes of brilliance, and a whole long period of shit... But in the end - literally - it ended, and now (supposedly) this is a new beginning.

What I don't really understand is HOW this is truly a new beginning, really. It's now 12:36am, Jan 1, 2010 as I write this, and I am still broke, I am still not happy professionally, I am still a disorganized mess, overweight, smoking, gambling, and a part-time louse... I gave up the full time job years ago. The pay sucked.

There was a conversation earlier this evening, and I was asked what resolutions I had made.

Here they are:




Did you get all that? Good.

If not, here it is in plain english - I MADE NO RESOLUTIONS! I no longer shall resolve to do ANYTHING on a January 1 timeline and have any realistic expectation of making it stick.

And how long are we supposed hold on to our resolutions for? Are they supposed to be for life? Or just for the next year?

"I am going to lose weight this year!" But next year you shall become a big, fat cow?

If you ARE going to make such a resolution, make sure it's all about a lifestyle change and not a temporary 'band aid'. This does nothing but frustrate you and make you feel like you failed if things don't go as you 'resolve' to do.

Here are some other 'resolution rules' I just made up now:

1. Never have the date be Jan 1...make it arbitrary, and sometime after the New Year's hangover wears off.
2. Make it specific, but realistic - you can't say "I resolve to be thin this year" when you look like Walter Hudson did...and expect to look like Kate Hudson when it's all done...
3. If you are going to 'quit' something, make it something that you wouldn't want to do in the first place...this way it gives you a sense of completion.
4. If you aren't sure what to resolve to do, because you are as pure as the driven snow, then resolve to pick up a bad habit that you can 'quit' NEXT year.
5. Here's a blanket resolution to use - "My resolution is to be better at badminton". If you don't play at all, then play once, and then you have gotten better. If you DO play, keep playing, and you will most likely get better...but you still won't get laid. Sorry.
   
6. Never resolve to get 'good' at something that you give a shit about. Mainly, this is because most things people want to be 'good' at have no measure of what 'good' IS. For instance, if you want to be a 'good' cook this year, then what are you going to measure that against? Is Bobby Flay 'good'? Emeril? Vongerichten? MOM? There is no barometer of 'good' in this type of instance - it's just 'yummy', 'edible' or 'I wouldn't serve this to my cat...or my neighbors cat'.
7. Don't blog and tell people about what the 'resolution rules' should be...'cause that is just friggin' arrogant.

Anyways, that is all I have right now...I'm a bit tipsy, and I decided to write. haven't done that in 6 months here... Hey! THAT could be my resolution!! Blog more!!!

Wait, no...I give a shit about this...wonder if I am any 'good' at it...

Peace...

- Mike