I spent the last day of 2016 staring at my computer screen hoping that words would magically appear. I really wanted to get outside to work on cutting down all of the frozen vegetation destroyed by the recent frosts but somehow was having difficulty working up enough enthusiasm to actually make the move. It might have had something to do with the fact that the weather is very cloudy and overcast and that it keeps trying to rain but the reality is, I am just being lazy.

Maybe that is my cue to make a New Year’s Resolution of “Stop Feeling Lazy” but the problem with that is I have never been able to make and keep any resolutions longer than a couple of weeks. That is not to say that I am weak willed. Not by a long way. Several years ago, I decided that I really needed to do something about my weight and over the next 3 year period, managed to go from 185 pounds down to 151 pounds and keep it there. I watch what and how much I eat in order to control the weight plus added the long hikes to my fitness routine.  I think that probably my greatest achievement is that 8 years ago, I quit drinking. Being very British, I was brought up on a diet of beer in all of its various forms and like many of my British colleagues, prided myself on how many pints of the aforementioned brew I could consume in any given evening. Turns out that the Judge decided that it was a habit that I could do without and after spending a couple of days in the slammer, I totally agreed with him. I did not take a lot of convincing and am pleased to say that I haven’t had any alcohol since that time. More recently, a little over a month ago, I decided that I needed to give up my only other remaining vice and that was drinking Starbuck’s Lattes. I was routinely drinking one and sometimes two a day and it was costing me $150 a month which I deemed to be another unnecessary expense, so I have quit cold turkey. Now I am waiting to see if Starbucks even notices that my card is not getting used. This was also adding additional mileage to my car as I would go out every afternoon to get a Latte and listen to Audiobooks on the car’s Bluetooth system and usually driving 20-30 miles while doing this. Relaxing but expensive…

So, it is not that I don’t have the willpower to make and keep New Year’s Resolutions but more that I need to really believe in whatever the resolution is. With the three I mentioned previously, I had pressing factors to help make them succeed, weight loss, money and jail time (plus a heavy fine), which goes a long way towards any success. I read somewhere that any emotional shock as long as it is big enough, helps to break bad habits and that was definitely true in my case.

Most people set incredibly difficult Resolutions that are almost impossible to keep under the best of circumstances. Other set so many that they can’t possibly keep up with them all and so eventually, they all go by the wayside however good the original intentions.

Me, as I said before, I will make the Resolution if and when it is needed. You could say, I have Resolved not to resolve.

Now, the sun is shining and my ambition level to go outside and cut back damaged greenery has risen by 100% far overshadowing the desire to sit and write about non existent New Year Resolutions.

Happy New Year everyone. May 2017 treat you kindly.