Making Resolutions

I am opinionated about New Year’s resolutions. I think resolving to be nice is a bad one and finishing a mini triathlon is a good one. It does not take a fool to know that “doing more” of something could easily be ambiguous and “working toward” something could spark procrastination. Taking a Ukrainian egg painting class, however, is nice and measurable. Did you go to class or did you skip it?

Five of the best types of New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Resolve to do something concrete. Run that half marathon, read that bible in entirety, send two hundred cards. You can do it and know that you are doing it. Plus, you can get it done before the year is over and then chill out.

2. Get into something. It is usually discovered when your friends are having a great enthusiastic conversation to which you can contribute nothing. Whether it be jazz music, stand-up comedy, Middle East politics, or that stinking sport to which you have never really paid attention, there is probably something that you have wanted to learn about if not become a total fanatic. This one should be modified by rules like number of operas you will attend or bowling clubs you will join.

3. Do something monthly. Read Glamour magazine, donate to UNICEF, go on one hike or date. Whatever it is, I am pretty sure a month is a manageable amount of time to do an easy task.

4. Learn how to do something. This one could be gray because if you get through a French workbook, you may still struggle when someone actually speaks to you in French. It still works if given specific goal requirements. By December 2011, I want to be able to dance a whole salsa song and not fall down or play that Nirvana song well enough for someone to recognize it. I want to graduate from juggling class.

5. Lastly, and most boring, I think deprivation ones are pretty good but should be modified with exceptions or substitutes. You could cut out reality TV except on Saturdays or at friends’ houses. Stop buying new boots (if that’s your thing) or switch from ice cream sundaes to frozen yogurt sundaes.

There is a secret sixth and that is the kind of resolution that you don’t make public. Maybe it is embarrassing because it reveals a body issue, social goal or secret interest. Maybe it sounds like you are bragging just for having it or it would ruin it if people knew (because they will be receiving homemade chocolate in the mail). I am not completely decided but I think I'm going type six this year.

Happy 2011!!