The Advent of a New Year

The holiday season is about to come to an end with the New Year's celebration. Now is the time that many people list what they want to change about themselves, often for the better.

I don't do that anymore. New Year's resolutions are always well meant, but after a week or two, I find myself slipping back into old habits/behaviors. It's human nature. We all make plans to stop smokin'/drinkin'/cursin'/etc., to lose weight, to work out, to be more organized.

And for a few days during the bright, shiney New Year, we cling to those resolutions like a freshly dried sock clings to your favorite shirt just out of the dryer. We go to the gym, we watch what we say, we put on the anti smokin' patch, we do all those things that are supposed to improve not only our lives, but the lives of those around us.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not jaded about startin' off the New Year with makin' positive changes. It's a great thing to aspire to. I don't make resolutions these days, because of the inevitable inability to follow through for any length of time. It's settin' myself up for failure, and why put myself through that?

The new year heralds new opportunities to NOT to the things that lead to failure. One can learn from the past and hopefully not repeat failures in the future. The old year is about over, so it's good to reflect on what went before, and to hope for what is to come.

So Happy New Year, everyone, and if you are the type to make resolutions, good luck to you.