I am a little late for this, considering it is January 3rd already. But it is already a ridiculous practice, so I suppose two days won’t hurt.
I have been surprised so far that my gym hasn’t become full of people deciding to “loose weight” for the new year. It is clear from all of the Weight Watchers and other diet commercials that the vast majority of American people will declare, “This is the year I will loose the forty pounds I’ve been meaning to drop since the summer of 1997.” Without going into the whole fat debate right now (which I will get to later, I promise), the issue essentially is that loosing weight doesn’t equal healthy, but also that setting goals which are difficult to meet will only result in disappointment and lowered self-esteem. Moving on…
I read something on the fatosphere about New Year’s Resolutions that got me thinking.
I wonder what kind of world we might live in, if instead of “lose weight”, people would instead make a new year’s resolution to “learn more about myself and the people in my life”. Instead of planning to shed pounds, how about working on shedding self-hatred/loathing/dislike/discomfort, or shedding the notion that the way a person looks is really one of the least important qualities about them?
Why not make resolutions that will benefit yourself in ways other than becomming more attractive? Why not make resolutions that will better the earth or humankind? Why not?
So in response to this, I thought it was only proper that I come up with my own set of New Year’s Resolutions.
1. I will learn more about my faith, my religion, and my God. I will get my questions answered and work on improving my relationship with God.
2. I will spend more time with my family.
3. I will remember birthdays, anniversaries, and the like and will remember the family members that I don’t talk to that often and will send them cards, letters, and emails.
4. I will spend more time doing activities and less time in front of the t.v.
5. I will be more financially responsible and stop spending money on things I don’t need.
6. I will clean the house at least once a week.
7. I will stop setting pop cans and bottles outside of my car door and pretending that it isn’t littering.
8. I will become more involved in a cause.
9. I will learn to take a compliment.
10. I will be more spontaneous.
11. I will stop being so pessimistic and start looking at all things from a positive perspective. I will find the good in every situation (and in every person).
Now doesn’t that feel better?
