I haven't blogged in a while (ah, the holidays) but as I was getting ready for work this morning, I realized that my wife and I hadn't made any plans for New Year's Eve. I made a mental note to ask her what she would like to do (dinner, movie, etc) and then realized:
It IS New Year's Eve.
So basically, we ain't doing jack.
With that monkey off my back (she had forgotten about it too, so I got away clean), I turned my attention to what my new year's resolution should be. I strive for self-improvement (when I think about it), so setting a realistic and attainable goal for 2013 is on top of my list for stretching myself this year.
Now, as I'm human, I've made plenty of resolutions in the past. Some I've upheld, others tanked magnificently within days of the resolution being struck. A quick sampling:
- I resolved in each of the last two years to increase my earnings as a freelance writer. In 2012, I made more than I've ever made (which, admittedly, still isn't much).
- I resolved in 2006 to be a great dad to my then-unborn daughter. The jury is still out on that one.
- I resolved back in the late 90s to be someone people liked. Since there are literally zero photos of me from college, I'm counting that one as a failure.
- I've resolved to write a book. Mission accomplished.
- I've resolved to get said book published by traditional means. Mission impossible.
- I've resolved to join a gym and get fit. Did it for one year. I'm counting it.
- I've resolved to become a popular local writer. Incomplete - not enough data.
With such a spotty track record, I've decided to set my sights low this year. I'll keep my usual writing goals at hand (write a book, increase my freelance work, increase my yearly earnings, continue to build my rep locally), but I'm going to also add one non-writing goal.
I'm going to trust my dentist and try and floss at least once every day.
Don't ask me why, but when my brain went to work on constructing the most plausible, achievable goal for this year, flossing immediately popped into my head. And me being me, my first reaction to the term "flossing" was, "I ain't wearing no thongs, brain. Think again."
Then, of course, my brain corrected me. Yes, even my own mind thinks I'm an idiot.
It's not impressive (in fact, just re-reading it right now, it sounds really, really LAME), but it is that most elusive of new year's resolutions: entirely doable. And it will be a true test of my self-discipline and will; I hate flossing, mainly because I have steadfastly refused to believe that cutting my gums on a daily basis with the filamental equivalent of concertina wire is capable of making my gums tough.
But if my writing has taught me anything, it's that you have to stick with your goals in order to see payoffs. You have to make yourself do what you don't want to do in order to achieve those things you want to achieve. And since I'm sounding very much like Tony Robbins and Joel Osteen now, I'm going to stop.
So: what are your new year's resolutions? What personal transformations will you undertake in the next few months? Let me know in the comments.
And if you resolve that you're not only hunky but dory as you are currently constructed, then may I wish you nothing but the best in the year to come.
Happy New Year!
