Is it just me, or does anyone else dislike the term "resolution"? The word stems from “resolute,” which describes an army’s firm stance against an enemy, and has a host of synonyms, including “unyielding”; “starched”; "inflexible”; “determined”; and, my personal favorite, “stubborn.” All characteristics my parents discouraged during my growing-up days.
Maybe my aversion to the word stems from my unsuccessful history with resolutions of the New Year’s variety. It’s not that I’m against self-examination, evaluation, and improvement, but the task of writing down a laundry list of things I must either repeat unfailingly or fail repeatedly for the next 365 days seems a little daunting to me.
Besides, for the past I-can't-remember-how-many years, my list has consisted of the same two items:
1. Lost Weight
2. Get Organized
The fact that these two items grace the Top Ten Most Popular New Year’s Resolutions List is encouraging. It either means (1) I’m fairly normal (questionable); or (2) others have failed to succeed in their past resolution attempts as well. I’m voting for the latter option.
Since "resolve" means a firm stance, if we yield to temptation even one time, we have already failed. That’s why many choose the term “Goal” over “Resolution.” A goal, simply defined, is a place toward which something moves. And, as in football, one can expect obstacles and setbacks along the route toward a goal. Those setbacks and lost yardage don't necessarily dictate failure; they merely offer an opportunity to get up and try again -- sometimes using a different method.
Setting goals and/or resolutions at New Year’s is a long-standing tradition that dates back to ancient Babylon days. When the Roman Senate chose to change the calendar, January was selected because the god Janus has two faces: one to look backward and another to watch the future, representing a time of reflection and change.
After reflecting back, I’ve decided to watch my future from a different perspective in 2008, and, hopefully, increase my odds of success. Instead of referring to my I-wish-I-were-this list as “resolutions," conjuring up all the negative connotations contained within that term, I’ve chosen to dub my list, “The Impossible Dream.”
No matter which term you prefer, take some time today to pause and reflect on the past and evaluate what changes could be made for the future.
I've stayed calm during most of the politically "correct" comments, but now they're messing with Santa Claus. Come on, people. First, he quit smoking his pipe. I'm sure with the stress in his life, an aromatic pipe and glass of sherry by the fire helped him relax, but no more. Next, he can't hold children on his lap in case someone thinks that's perverted. What-ever! Oh, and he can't say "Ho! Ho! Ho!" anymore because some underprivileged child might mistake that phrase for a slur against women. (Who comes up with this stuff, anyway?)
