New Year’s Resolutions? Forget About It!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that everyone’s talking about their New Year’s resolutions. This little post-holiday ritual is probably my least favorite thing about January. After all, what can be more depressing than entering a new year with the pressure of having to actually live up to certain expectations?

I’d much rather just say, “Hey, whatever happens, happens.” Then whenever you actually do something productive, worthwhile or positive, you will be giddy with surprise and joy.

As soon as it turns January, you can feel the pressure to publicly state your goal, sort of like some strange rite of passage in order to belong to the 2009 Club. Does it really mean anything? I mean, if I say, “I want to become a millionaire and facilitate world peace,” is it really going to happen? I think not.

But people remain optimistic in spite of my skepticism. So I took an informal poll of New Year’s resolutions, and — big surprise — almost everybody said, “I want to lose weight.” This, after having spent four weeks gorging on company party buffets and Aunt Millie’s fruit pies. Not to mention the amount of calories consumed in beer, wine and Mojitos. How unoriginal. I mean, EVERYBODY wants to lose weight at the beginning of a new year. And it usually lasts right up until Valentine’s Day, when chocolates actually murmur your name from the candy aisle at Target.

I think we should all pledge that for 2009 we’ll just be pleasantly plump, carry that extra twenty pounds with pride and jiggle our way through St. Patrick’s Day. Or better yet, let’s boycott resolutions all together and make a pact to embrace our flaws and simply love each other as is.

Another resolution that I heard repeatedly was, “I want to exercise more.” Do you know how many times I’ve made this resolution? It usually lasts a couple of weeks, until I get so tired of fighting the hordes of people at the gym who have made the very same resolution, that I give up until after Easter.

I overheard someone say that their resolution was to be more organized. I’m just wondering if they think that some mystical Organizer Fairy from Magic Land is going to sprinkle Martha Stewart fairy dust on them and they’ll transform over night? I hate to say it, but if anyone thinks that a character flaw makeover is coming your way just because it’s 2009, you might be a little disappointed.

I guess my point is that setting goals is fine, and actually meeting those goals is even better. But I’m a little skeptical when it comes to making resolutions just because the calendar reflects a different year. Shouldn’t bringing in 2009 really be about appreciating each other, spending more time with family and friends and just being thankful that we made it through 2008? I’ll have to work on that this year.