New Beginnings

2013. 2005. 1997. 1982. 1972. How far back would you like to go to see the progress you made on those New Year’s resolutions from your past?

If you are anything like me, you have failed time and time again to maintain that wonderful resolve you had on the first day of every New Year.

The resolve to be a better family member.

The resolve to live a truly organized life.

The resolve to volunteer more for a worthy cause.

The resolve to be more charitable with your material resources.

The resolve to read more and watch less television.

The resolve to exercise more and eat more healthy foods.

On and on and on goes the list of resolutions — resolved — then broken again. For some of us, it seems to be in our DNA to fail at these resolutions, a character flaw even. How else do we explain so many repeated attempts to better ourselves?

As I have examined and reexamined my own failures, I have recently reached a different conclusion regarding my multiple failed attempts at self-betterment.

I say “yes” to far too many projects. For each “yes” lessens the time available for me to tackle previous commitments I have made. After 75.5 years of life, it has dawned on me that I cannot single-handedly save the entire world.

I must eliminate my habit of procrastination by replacing it with more of a “do it now” or “pledge to do it as soon as reasonably possible” habit.

I am painfully aware that all of this is much easier said than done, but as I visualize a new me, I like what I see.

Alvin