Reflections and Resolutions

As we reach the final days of this year I find myself reflecting back over the events of the past year. I have created a mental tally sheet with a positive and negative column. As I reflect back and think of things I have done, things I have said, and things I have thought I place them in one of the two columns. My hope is that at the end of this mental exercise I can have a much longer list in the positive column than I do in the negative column. This list should then be a guide to help me formulate my “New Year’s Resolutions for 2014. So far I am still working on the lists so I have not resolved to do anything in 2014, not yet. But considering resolutions makes my mind go off into another direction, and allows me to temporarily put aside the painful experience of my personal naughty and nice list.

I wonder if I have ever kept a New Year’s Resolution. Do these resolutions simply set us up for failure as we select unattainable goals, or worse, meaningless goals. I know in years past I have resolve to lose weight, to be kinder to people, to lose weight, to exercise more, to lose weight, to . . .well, you get the picture. I am not sure if I have ever accomplished any of these goals and I think maybe the reason is that those goals are meaningless for the most part. I need to come up with a resolution that will not only impact my life in a meaningful way, but will impact the lives of others as well. And that, my friend, is a tall order. I want to resolve to do something that will, in years to come, make folks remember me fondly, not remember me as that sarcastic , grumpy old man. I want to resolve to so something that will impact the most people, in a positive way.

As I ponder the best way to do this, I will say I am open to suggestions. Unfortunately, people are never brutally honest. If I ask people, what I can change to make me a better person I would probably be served a platter of platitudes such as “you are fine just the way you are”. We all know, that just ain’t true! But what will have the most impact? Will changing my diet and exercise help? After all, that could make me live longer. Living longer won’t matter, but what I do with the extra time will. I am just thinking out loud here folks, come on, help me out. So I am stuck in the middle, reflecting back before I resolve moving forward. I hope I am not the only one struggling with this.

I must now get back to the tasks at hand. I have to say, a recent event in my life has changed my perspective on what is important, on what matters and what doesn’t There is a line from n old country and western song that says “live fast, love hard, die young, and leave a beautiful memory”. I am not fully in agreement with that sentiment, but I hope to leave a beautiful memory.

Those are my thoughts, what are yours