New Year’s resolutions

A Dry Year?

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A few of my family and friends got a head’s up on what I have resolved to do differently in 2014. Some said I was nuts and predicted I won’t make it through a week. Others vowed to do one day, one month, or even 100 days along with me. One wise friend encouraged me by saying even a single day observed is an achievement. I wouldn’t be surprised if you could actually place a bet in Vegas on how long I’ll stick with it. Let’s face it, some resolutions are just easier to accomplish than others.

What is my 2014 New Year’s resolution? I resolve to drink no alcohol in 2014. It’s making me thirsty just thinking about it. Below is a picture of me taking my last drink at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

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It has occurred to me that not drinking could be the path to several other important goals I considered this year and many other New Year’s before, like losing weight, saving more money, running faster, having more time to read and to write, and spending more quality time with my loved ones. Not one to easily shy away from a challenge, I decided to try for the big kahuna this year.

On the other hand, I have also considered that it is entirely possible that not drinking will take all of the enjoyment out of life and make me absolutely miserable. One thing’s for sure, it is going to be very interesting to try.

Not knowing how hard this is going to be or how realistic it is as a New Year’s Resolution, I took a few minutes to look up some quotes about failure. Here are the ones that resonate the most with me as I begin this challenge:

• “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan

• “Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.” – John Wooden

• “Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement. – C. S. Lewis

• “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.” – Abraham Lincoln

Whatever happens, you’ll be able to catch my thoughts on my New Year’s Resolution right here, under the blog category of “A Dry Year.”

Resolutions

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I’m one of those annoying people who makes multiple New Year’s resolutions every year. I obsess over my resolutions for pretty much the entire month of December and, sometimes, even bounce them off friends and family. Then I decide on my final list right at the very end and record them in my journal on January 1.

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Through the years, my resolutions have ranged from the easily attainable personal changes like “read more” and “enjoy the outdoors more” to the, shall we say, aspirational and probably out of reach, like “qualify for the Boston marathon” and “lose 20 pounds.” Needless to say, I’ve had mixed success achieving these personal goals. So, if, like me, you’re thinking of making some resolutions for 2014, maybe this advice will help.

Years ago, I read an article that claimed you improve your chance of sticking to a resolution if you tell it to others and then write it down. That really does help. What I discovered on my own is that having several resolutions increases the chance that at least one of them will stick. And also, that it only takes one successfully achieved resolution to make you feel proud at the end of the year.

If you’re still having trouble coming up with your own resolution, feel free to borrow one of mine.

One year, I resolved to “get outside more and enjoy Vermont in every season.” I took up downhill skiing after a 23-year hiatus and started running outside, even in inclement weather. Meanwhile, the canoe that takes up half the basement makes an excellent conversation piece. Another time, I resolved to “write more.” I bought a diary with one page for every day and resolved to write every single day. I did it – sort of. I forgot to take the diary on one lengthy trip. My husband thought I was nuts when I came home and struggled to fill up all of those empty pages, “post facto.” I am still journaling today, so “mission accomplished.” More recently, I resolved to “read more” and joined two book clubs. Only one of those clubs actually reads books – the other one is more of a monthly ladies’ gossip fest. The point is, I am reading more.

The resolutions I have kept have led to small life changes that make me happier and healthier. This brings me to 2014. I do hope you give this whole resolution thing a try. Me? I have five things I’m still mulling over. It’s anyone’s guess what I’ll pick when I write in my journal on January 1st. What about you?