It is New Year’s Eve, although as the previous two posts may have pointed out, it will probably be dated January 1, 2016. I can’t worry about that now. I must make my post! (Said with a dramatic gesture.)
It is not Lame Post Friday, my usual place for half-baked philosophy, yet what better time can there be to wax philosophical than the threshold of another year? Oh, you can probably think of lots of times (you know who you are). Why do I even bother with these rhetorical questions? HELLO! THAT ONE WAS RHETORICAL TOO!!!
There is some controversy about the efficacy of New Year’s Resolutions. Many people firmly eschew them. Others embrace them with fervor. (Look at me articulating with the E words: “efficacy,” “eschew,” “embrace!”) I personally am of two minds here.
Part of me says, “Take any opportunity to improve yourself, you need it” (yes, I often talk to myself in the second person). And for another reason, how can you worry about self-improvement during the holidays? Start a diet with all those Christmas cookies and candy around? Clean the house amidst all those decorations? Work on that novel when you have shopping, wrapping and partying to do? It’s madness, I tell you! (Again, with dramatic gesture.)
The other part of me says, “You’re setting yourself up for failure! You’ll never stick to it, and then you’ll feel bad about yourself!” Quite frankly, I think this is a spurious argument. Say I start a diet in January then eat a pan of fudge brownies in February. Does this mean I have to wait until next January to start another diet, thus wallowing in self-loathing for 10 months? Well, I guess that would give me a chance to eat a lot more brownies…
My real problem is that I feel all self-conscious, like I’m doing the cliche, obvious thing, having a New Year’s Resolution. None of the cool kids are doing it. And by “cool kids,” of course I mean the unusual, alternative, unexpected kids.
And then I come to the stunning realization: EITHER WAY, I’M FOLLOWING A CROWD! Some people make New Year’s Resolutions, some do not. Whatever I do I’m wrong.
Or, whatever I do, I’m right.
Happy New Year, everybody.
Mohawk Valley Girl 
I’m not really one for New Years Resolutions, mostly because of the ‘not sticking to them and feeling like a failure’ thing, but I do set myself goals. Last year was quit my job and complete a marathon, both of which I achieved – injury and poverty consequences aside, I reckon that makes 2015 a win! 😉
Happy New Year! 🙂
I like Goals better than Resolutions. You can work TOWARD a goal. A resolution is do it or fail, period. To hell with resolutions! And Happy New Year!