New Year, New Resolutions

I've started thinking about resolutions for the new year, but I
haven't had a chance to fully gather my thoughts on them yet. I know,
that sounds so contrary to the whole notion: procrastinating on new
year's resolutions. But honestly, I need to sit down and have some
alone-time to think about how I'd like this next year to be
remembered, what I'd like to achieve, how I want to grow.

Growing up, my mother always had us sit down and write 3-5
resolutions. We were told to think about it seriously for the last
couple weeks of the year. We were supposed to think about how we
wanted to be different from how we were the previous year - or how we
might continue improving in areas of life that needed work.

Our resolutions were supposed to aim high while being reasonable,
measurable, achievable. We were mostly encouraged to make resolutions
about practices that affected our character more than anything else.

So often, I think of wise words from my friend Kathy shared with me
years ago. I remember telling her how frustrated I was with myself -
that the same character and personality flaws I've always hated about
myself since I was a child persisted despite all my desire to change.
Her response? We may not be all we wish we were, but thank god we are
not who we once were.

And it's true. I have only to look at myself 5 years ago and think of
the ways I know I've grown since then to know it's true. I may feel
unchanged, but I'm not.

So I'm thinking about this year ahead and how I'd like to look back at
it five years from now. I want to say, "yes, that changed for me that
year; I made a resolution." Of course, I don't want them to be binding
oaths that keep me from being free and flexible. But I'd like them to
be meaningful and memorable. Let's see how I do.