Monday, January 01, 2007

Have You Ever Kept A New Year's Resolution?

Every New Year, we're awash in resolutions. This New Year, I'd like to ask a different question: Have you ever made one that you've kept?

I have. I made a resolution one year - can't remember which - to make sure I appreciated my life and the people around me as if it would be gone tomorrow.

I can honestly say that I have learned to do that. My life is so much richer because of it, and less stressful, too - I don't get aggravated at so many petty things, and I don't think I'll get caught wishing I had said "I love you". I make sure it gets said.

I wish I could be as successful with some of my other resolutions, such as losing weight. However, if I had to pick just one to keep, gratitude would be it, and I'm glad I have.

How about you? I'd love to hear yours - inspire me!

9 comments:

Lew Scannon said...

The last resolution I kept was my resolution not to make anymore resolutions on New Year's. Now I just change behavior when I have the clarity to acknowledge that it needs to be changed. Works out much better that way.

Anne said...

my psyche needs more frequent maintenance than yearly, so i don't follow this tradition, much.
i like what you say about appreciating the little things we often miss-due to being caught up in meaningless, trivial bullshit. it took me many years to get that one.
here's to a new-and-improved year ahead, politically and personally.

Yoga Korunta said...

Good for you, Alicia! Appreciation of friends and family is important to all.

New Year's resolutions haven't been made in years. The idea of improvement is ongoing and sometimes successful.

Best to you!

Larry said...

Resolutions are usually forgotten so I just try to be appreciative everyday of the good things that happen.

This helps to minimize the bad days.

Anonymous said...

My only resolutions this year are to have more fun and to take better care of myself. As long as it's a net gain, then we don't need to get into specifics.

Anonymous said...

This year I resolved to not make resolutions which means if I break that resolution then I'm stuck making resolutions.

I live to confuse myself, it seems.

BTW, I stumbled on here via Technorati this morning because I was curious to see how miserably my blog is ranking, (it actually jumped a million spaces from the last time I checked to about the 1.5 million mark), and I saw that you are the very FIRST person to link to my site from yours and, WOW, Thank you.

I just found out about you from the kick-ass job you and JurrasicPork did with completely doing the "It's A Wonderful Life" parody along the lines of JurrasicPork's Pottersville leit-motif, so getting a link from you is pretty high praise and I'm really humbled by it.

Again, thanks.

I'm not superstitious, but I do pay attention to Chinese Astrology because I believe their is some collected wisdom there, and this year that we're coming out of finally is the Chinese Year of the Dog, and it's supposed to be a tough one, especially if you're a person who is born in the Year of The Dog, like George W. Bush is, and look at the year he's had.

This next year though is going to be the Year of The Pig and according to them it's supposed to be a prosperous one, and I gotta tell ya, I didn't plan on it, but ever since New Year's Day, from the moment I woke up I've been feeling like I've been shot out of a cannon and plugged into the wall, in a good way.

Having this new Congress get sworn and seated, with our new Lady Speaker of The House hasn't been a bad thing either, so who knows, 2007 might be a rock and rolling year all around, except for that damned Iraqi body count that keeps going up on both sides.

~nyc

Jolly Roger said...

I resolve to spend more of my time near the Great Lakes.

It's the same resolution I make every year, and I keep it!

DivaJood said...

Happy 2007. I hope that Congress resolves to Impeach this year.

I don't make them myself, but like you, Alicia, I am grateful for each day.

Pursey Tuttweiler said...

I think gratitude is the best blessing one can have. I too embrace gratitude, it is a state of mind that makes one and the lives of others around you feel peaceful and whole.