New Year's Resolutions

I checked my weblog archives.  It seems I didn't make any New Year's resolutions last year.  I was going to write a post where I gave myself a grade for how well I followed last year's goals.  But there weren't any.  So instead I figured I'll make some for 2006.

I never really sit down and think about New Year's resolutions in any legitimate way.  I don't think there are big fundamental things about my life that I'm looking to change -- or at least not things I want to change that are necessarily within my control and can be articulated in a sentence, like a New Year's Resolution ought to be.  The people in front of me in line at Duane Reade yesterday were talking about how they read that the most common New Year's resolution is to lose weight, and second most common is to quit smoking.  Luckily those aren't things I need to worry about.  The problem with New Year's Resolutions is that they're either too easy or they're impossible.  I could list things I'm planning on doing anyway -- "I resolve to buy some more socks, since they seem to be my limiting factor lately when it comes to having to do laundry" -- but that seems like it's sorta cheating.  Or I could list things that I suppose I aspire to do, but simply calling them New Year's Resolutions isn't going to make them any more likely to happen, like "I resolve to stop pressing the send/receive button on Outlook every four seconds."

But there must be some sort of ground in between, filled with things I actually want to do, think I can and should do, but won't do unless I make a special effort to, and hold myself accountable to by declaring them New Year's Resolutions.

I resolve to finish filling out the paperwork to officially become a lawyer, before I forget.
I resolve to stop using my cheap teaspoons when I scoop ice cream out of the container, because I keep bending them and one of these days the spoon part is going to snap off.
I resolve to learn how they fold things in stores to make them look well-folded, and then apply that lesson toward the things in my closet.
I resolve to stop buying non-generic versions of things when the generic version is just fine, like aluminum foil and table salt.
I resolve to stop buying generic versions of things when the non-generic version is demonstrably better, like ziploc bags, and, uh, socks.
I resolve to floss at least once a day, perhaps twice.
I resolve to learn how to play a little bit of guitar, and a little more piano than I can already play.
I resolve to either take apart the paper clip chain I made last week, or add enough additional paper clips to it that it really feels like an accomplishment.
I resolve to buy a new umbrella that doesn't have sharp metal things poking out of the ends and a broken clasp such that it opens every so often even when it's just lying on the floor untouched.
I resolve to win my fantasy baseball league.
I resolve to really make an effort to figure out whether the Q train gets me to midtown faster than the 2/3 or whether it's just an illusion because there are less stops, even though it moves slower.
I resolve to figure out what I'm really looking for, and how to find it.

Feel free to share yours.

Comments

[Sean]

I tried to leave a comment earlier, but I don't think it went through. Anyway, I had said that if you decide to follow through on the resolution to learn guitar, I know of a few good websites to help you on your way. I've recently started playing myself, and it's been difficult but very enjoyable.

Just e-mail me if you find yourself stuck while learning to play. I'd be glad to share the sites that have helped me so far.

[Steph]

Maybe I should resolve to stop wimping out everytime the guitar strings make my fingers hurt, so I can finally learn the guitar that I've wanted to learn 3 years ago.

Those are very interesting resolutions, by the way. Very... unconventional :P

[some guy]

I resolve to blog a little better. By better, I mean "be more interesting."

[girlfriday]

i agree with a lot of your resolutions and have, at various times, resolved to do many of the same things. well, except the lawyer paperwork, cuz i'm not a lawyer.
in all seriousness, flossing is key. flossing and avoiding that yellow toe fungus (also known as onychomycosis). in med school, that's what my patients would always tell me...take care of your teeth and your toenails. practical advice, really. and a great new year's resolution.

[-leslie.-]

I really liked the comment about blogging a little better. I'd like to show more of my funny side rather than the side that is a neurotic navel gazer. Why so many people have already found that appealing is beyond me.

[PG]

Are your cheap teaspoons the kind that don't have the metal all the way through? I got a set of silverware like that, and I think almost half of them have snapped off in the last 18 months. I should have retained the wisdom of my brief stint selling Cutco knives, where one of the big advantages was that the tang of the knife went alll the way down through the handle, so it couldn't snap off.

You are right about buying generic aluminum foil, but don't buy generic saran wrap - doesn't work.