MARY LAMPHERE AUTHOR

It’s that time of year again… the beginning of time.
A New Year, a Fresh Start, the annual Calendar Reboot.

Time for New Year’s Resolutions…
Resolutions have been around, quite literally, forever.
The ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.
Sounds good to me. Nothing wrong with that. Return and pay, great goals for a new year.

Of course contemporary resolutions have little to do with promises to pay, that’s simply implied each time you signed the credit card slip during your holiday shopping extravaganzas.

I have noticed lately how resolutions have fallen out of favor. It’s quite trendy to spout anti-resolute commentary.

“Stop fooling yourself with resolutions you know won’t last.”

“I’m perfect just the way I am, there’s nothing to resolve.”

“January 1st is just a date, I try to be a better person all year round.”

You know you’ve heard it, heck maybe you’ve said it.
But I don’t believe it. Call it what you will, say it when you want, you still make resolutions.

How can you possibly consider the past year and not want to make changes? Improvements! Be thinner, more fit, take a class, get a raise, dye your hair. Be more productive or less unproductive, happier, healthier, and all around better.

Daily goals, sure. And there is absolutely no reason that you can’t begin your journey to betterment on Tuesday, March 25. But why? We have this built in system of renewal. On the heels of excess (late nights, socializing, spending, rich foods, lots of drink) there is a fresh start, January 1. There is something hopeful about the first of a new year, something optimistic. Why wouldn’t we take advantage of that?

I bet you’re making resolutions for the new year. Maybe you don’t say them out loud because then you might be held accountable. Maybe you’re shouting them from the rooftops and on every social network page because you need accountability. Maybe you don’t call them “resolutions.” Maybe your GOAL to be a better person just happens to be at the forefront of your mind right now. Maybe your renewed DEDICATION to a project is conveniently at the top of your To-Do list. Perhaps  your PURPOSE has recently become clear and your FOCUS to it inevitable.

Whatever you call it, I wish you the best of luck with your sticktoitism.

For me, 2014 is the Year of Focus.

I resolve to finish the things I have started.
That’s a tall order, I’ve started a LOT of things.
But this year shall bring focus for me, or I shall force focus on myself, either way, dammit, I’m finishing things.
(By “things” I am mostly referring to writing projects… to the files full of novel beginnings and the random jottings for short stories. I can exercise and eat right in 2015.)

By the way, THIS is my 100th blog.
One hundred!

In two full years of blogging, my dedication has been pretty focused.
I know I can do it. Focus, I mean. I just have to make it happen.
And today is as good a day as any.

(I realized the message of this blog would be much stronger if I did indeed share it on January 1st. But I’m a Monday Blogger! It’s my thing!)