New Years' is No Time for Resolutions

I took some time today to set some goals for myself for the coming year.

Notice I didn't call them "resolutions." Why? Well, the nature of a resolution is to see its fulfillment NOW... think about how congress passes laws - "... it is hereby resolved..." "... the context of this resolution is to bring about..." It means that you decide that it WILL be... and worse still, it WILL be NOW!

I couldn't put that kind of pressure on myself. It's hard enough to think about 2010 being here already without putting myself in a no-win situation by "resolving" to somehow control my life - even in little bits. I have to laugh... "Space - 2010" was the SEQUEL to "Space Odyssey 2001!" We were supposed to be exploring deep space by now, and as a nation we can hardly keep our citizens employed and productive! (I'm not even going to talk about living on the moon ala "Space 1999" ) See what I mean? I'm certain that someone, somewhere RESOLVED to be exploring deep space by 2001... or someone RESOLVED to have a viable colony on the moon by 1999... and you can see where that ended up - RIGHT? NO SIR... no resolutions for me. Just simple goals.

Why did I choose the word "goal" rather than "resolution?" Some would argue they're one in the same - but I'd have to disagree. Typically, a goal can be broken down into "bite-size" steps that make the overall chance of successfully reaching that goal higher. My goals sound an awful lot like some of your resolutions for this year, but I don't feel intimidated, and set up for failure. (You know, that sure sounds like I'm giving myself an out - doesn't it?)

I made 5 simple goals for myself to achieve this year:

1. Watch less television - I've been making this goal every year for as long as I can remember... in fact, I think I've made this goal every month of every year, and maybe even every week of every month of every year. Needless to say, it's a MUCH NEEDED goal!
2. Read/write more - Mark Twain said, "A man who won't read good books has nothing over a man who can't read good books." I don't ever want that said of me. Additionally, I've been given a gift when it comes to writing. I don't know why I don't do more of it - and hence, the goal to not only read more, but to write more as well. This past year has been a rough one for me and my family - but it's time to put some normality back into our lives.
3. Eat better - Fact of the matter is, I'm not liking the middle-aged spread that's beginning to happen to me - and more than that, I haven't felt too great. I know a lot of it has to do with what, and HOW I eat. Time to take a serious look at this area of my life - for the first time in my life.
4. Lose weight and exercise - I know, I know... been there, done that... didn't work out too well. I've always agreed with St. Paul in the bible when he said that "physical exercise profits the body little..." and have always thought the only kind of running you should do is from the law or your ex-wife - but I can't keep going the way I am. All the years taking opiate narcotics are behind me now, and though I've still got pain and something going on with my skeleton, I can exercise. So - I'm busting out the bike, and going to actually do it this year. And finally,
   
5. Play more music. I used to tell my sweetheart that I'd rather go blind than lose my hearing. Music was that important to me. Well, needless to say, the last few years have sort of taken the wind out of my sails in every area of my life. My music has suffered along with my reading, writing, exercising, and dieting (like how I tied them all together there?). I love music. I love playing my guitar and mandolin... there is no reason on earth I shouldn't be play more, with friends, and for God. Enough said.

Now, as I said, goals can be broken down into wonderful "bite-size" chunks that make "eating the elephant one bite at a time" a little easier. I'm not saying, "as of right this moment I am going to ... blah blah blah." That would only be setting myself up for failure. But, by taking each of my goals and writing sub-goals, and sub-sub-goals, or steps if you'd prefer - I think I have an actual fighting chance of coming out of 2010 a little healthier, better read, creative, thinner, and filled with more music.

And here's the kicker. If I drop the ball along the way, I drop the ball along the way. The nice thing about dropping the ball is this: if you don't accidentally kick it as it slips from your hands, it generally stays fairly close to where it fell, and is just begging to be picked back up!

So I did it. I made some attainable goals for myself to achieve in the year we were supposed to be exploring deep space and listening to HAL as he tells me, "I'm sorry Michael. I'm afraid I can't do that." HAL may not be able to dot "THAT"... but I can. One step at a time.

Here's to me, and to a new year that outshines that last one. And I hope and pray the same can be said for you as well.

It's a journey - and with every one I've been on, they all start with a single step.