Making Resolutions

I have never been a huge fan of goal-setting probably because I have never been very good at the whole follow through thing. Like most people that set goals for the New Year, I find that after setting rather lofty (and most of the time unachievable) goals, I soon become overwhelmed and slip back into my old habits. And when I fail, I feel angry and disappointed with myself because of my lack of discipline. So, a few years ago I decide to stop making New Year’s resolutions. I have adopted the following theory:

“He who breaks a resolution is a weakling; he who makes one is a fool” (Knowles).

Now, this is not to say that I never set goals and never achieve them, I just think that the idea of setting goals just because it’s the New Year is silly. When I identify and area for improvement in my life I try to break the habit and make the change as soon as possible. I have found that New Year’s goals let you say “I won’t think about that today; I’ll think about it tomorrow”; it’s just too easy to say you will start making improvements next year, next month, etc.

The end of the year is quickly approaching and I find myself thinking back over the last 363 days and trying to decide if I have made good use of the time I have been given. It has been a phenomenal year, and although I know I have many changes and improvements to make, I am still very pleased with this past year and what I have done with it. (Guess I should be—it’s not like I can re-do it if I am not.)

I hope 2009 will be as wonderful a year as 2008 has been.