It’s the time of year again when nearly everyone decides they’re not good enough in one or more very important aspects and decide to make some changes.  New Year’s Resolutions have been around for ages and still have a firm foothold here in 2008 with revelers announcing their plans to become better people.  But what if you don’t feel the need to change?  What if you’re happy with the way you are?

I made a resolution last year and I’m planning on keeping it.  It was simply to never make another New Year’s Resolution – and I’m happy to say, so far, so good.  If you need to make changes in your life for whatever reason, you shouldn’t need a “special day” to make it happen.  New Year celebrations are only an excuse to change, not a reason.  If I notice, for example, that I’m consistently being a miserable jerk to everyone I meet in April, should I wait until January to stop?  If I’m choking on cigarettes in June and want to rid myself of the nasty habit, should I smoke for another six months just so I can make a resolution?  I understand the whole “new beginning” idea, but people get so hung up on dates and needing special events to put these changes in motion that they lose sight of what their goal is and why they’re trying to reach it.  Another problem is that, in addition to people making too many resolutions at once, there’s a good chance that if they blow one resolution, they’ll likely dismiss the rest.  And if not, most people forget they actually made resolutions by the second week in January anyway.

I’m far from the perfect person, but if I need to make conscientious changes I will try to do so right then and there - not wait for an occasion to come along so I can make public promises to myself.  But again, it’s a tradition and we’re a traditional people, so year after year after year we’ll hear the same people say the same things:

“I’m gonna lose weight!”
(Usually announced by someone holding a three-pound block of fudge)

“I’m going to quit smoking!”
(Spoken by a 3-pack-a-day guy whose nickname is Phillip Morris)

“I’m gonna drink less!”
(This would be the guy wearing the Budweiser t-shirt to your formal party)

“I’m going to reduce stress in my life!”
(This would be my wife – it’ll never happen)

“I’m going to help people more!”
(Spoken as this person rudely elbows his way to the bar)

“I’m gonna reduce my debt!”
(Announced just before buying a fourth round for everyone)

“I’m going to take a vacation!”
(He just returned from two weeks in Greece)

“I’m going to find a better job!”
(This person has been with the same company for twenty-four years)

Very few of us keep our resolutions beyond the total time we spend boasting about them on New Year’s Eve to people we don’t know.  It’s easy to make a resolution, it’s something else completely to keep that self-made promise.  Like most people, I have things I’d like to change about myself; when I’m ready to make those changes, I’ll make them.  When I quit smoking I did so in the month of May, not January.  I did so because I wanted to make the change, not because the rest of the world was making promises to itself.

So I’ll make changes, just at my own pace.  Here are a few I’m working on:

Sleep more.
(Toughie – I’m working on it)

Get less fatter.
(And more skinnier)

Continue breathing.
(This one’s easier without those cigarettes)

Don’t be so humble.
(Lord, it’s hard)

Stop being so sexy.
(Well, it’s true – I really should stop)

Stop being so honest.
(See above - honesty may not always be the best policy)

Write about interesting subjects.
(I know you’re all pushing hard for this one – don’t hold your breath)