For an Easier 2011, Don't Make a Resolution

Tweet

Share It!

Print
Email

It is lightly snowing out side my office window on New Year’s Eve as I write this…

It is a sure thing that I am NOT making a New Year’s resolution. But I suppose you could argue that NOT making a resolution is my resolution!

"New Year’s Day…now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolution. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual." - Mark Twain

I am not going to resolve to lose weight or any other typical resolution. If I wanted to do it, I would have started it already. No point in giving myself something to feel bad about later when I know I don’t really want to do it. 
  

I have been thoroughly enjoying all kinds of holiday food! Top of my list is mashed potatoes and gravy. Chocolate is a very close second. Any chocolate. We wrapped up the holiday feasting with junk food night tonight. I thought maybe this long tradition might come to and end this year because our oldest is a sophomore in college. It is wonderful that he is looking forward to stuffing himself while we watch a comedy I rented at the video store. One of the highlight of junk food night is “cheese in a can” squirted on a very nice Ritz cracker.

“Now there are more overweight people in America than average-weight people. So overweight people are now average…which means, you have met your New Year’s resolution.” - Jay Leno

I can hear some of you thinking—but we should watch our weight, etc. Yes, but, I am not a big fan of shoulds, unless it is ‘you should pay your taxes.’ Slowly over the years, I have been eating healthier. I do this without any shoulds—I just do it because I feel better and don’t “bite off” more than I can chew. I think this is an easier formula to stick to. Part of that formula is that I treat myself with my favorite foods from time to time. Just not all the time. When we are at my mom’s house for a holiday meal, I love her cooking so much I stuff myself silly!

I think we should make resolutions to treat ourselves better. Make the time to have lunch with a friend or go get a manicure. (Guys, insert what works for you here). How about if we all pay a little more attention to being kinder to ourselves? Turn down the volume on our inner critics. It is a sure thing that we will feel better and those around us will benefit from that. 

Here are a few cute New Year’s resolutions from HubPages.com:

I will…

• …Start washing my hands after I use the restroom.
• …Stop drinking orange juice after I just brushed my teeth.
• …Stop licking frozen flag poles.
• …Only get divorced and remarried once this year.
• …Watch more movie remakes.
• …Go back to school to avoid paying my student loans.
• …Only eat white snow.
• …Keep it to myself that I have trouble with authority when I’m being interviewed.
• …Spend less than $1825 for coffee at Starbucks this year.
• …Claim all my pets as dependents on my taxes.

Hope you all have a wonderful New Year! I am very grateful to all of you who read and Tweet / Facebook my articles. I couldn’t do it with out your support.

Ann Troe (@AnnieDoodlebugz) is graphic designer and illustrator. http://AnnGraphics.com http://AnniesDoodlebugz.com