The somber moments after clock strikes 12:01 AM, January 1st, we count our blessings and vow to make this new year something better than last year. Even though last year is just minutes behind us, we find hope for a new plan. Lose weight, exercise more, drink less, curse less, spend less, work harder, work less, be a better spouse, get a spouse, be a better parent, become a parent, be a better person to our parents, and so on and so on goes the list of resolutions.

Many of us look to the new year as a time of renewal, but before the “Bowl” games are over, we have broken a few of our new pledges. Oh, well, tomorrow is another day! By January 15th we can hardly remember any of those resolutions. Or we remember, but working to keep them is so difficult.

We really are a nation of spontaneous gratification. Working for anything other than our careers is not an easy task. We can justify almost any over indulgence, and if we pledge to be “better” at life there is always a justification waiting around the corner. We really should remember that justifications are not free…there is a big price to be paid for using them.

Any resolutions we put in place could be more easily accomplished if we ask ourselves how much we want to live by the resolutions. Learning some new habits is not easy! It is really a matter of progress. By setting some realistic goals for the new year, we will have to commit to making them a part of the year and part of daily living. Those somber moments and the twinkling of the holiday lights can cause us to become so emotional, that we think ANYTHING can work ! And everything can work if you work for it!

Diets are not magic…stop overeating!
Drink too much…ask yourself why!
EXERCISE…JUST DO IT!
Catch yourself cursing…stop!
Spend too much…be frugal, pinch a few pennies!
Find time for your children, your parents, your pets…stop whining about how busy you are!
Work more, work less…which works for you?

Don’t make the new year mistake. Make your plans realistic and WORK for your goals.

If this advice doesn’t make sense to you, just ask yourself if you are in for the long haul. Make lifetime commitments, not a new year’s resolutions. Remember to strive for progress. After all, perfection is not reserved for humans.

Happy New Year!