New Year's Resolutions...One We Might Just Do

 Many make new year's resolutions, myself included. Many have failed to follow through on those resolutions, myself included. There are several things that I do on a regular basis I would describe as positive. I suppose at some point--either consciously or subconsciously--I made a resolution to do these things (I wonder if the same could be said for the negative things I do...). 

In my fifty-five years on this planet, I know that making resolutions in no way guarantees success. In order for me to adopt a positive habit, I need to want to do it, want to make it part of me, want me to be a better person by doing it.

This morning we set up the beginnings of a home gym. We found a house that has a HUGE garage, something we're unaccustomed to having. This thing could house multiple VW beetles, or four normal-sized cars. One section of the garage is deep, more than the width of the house. When my wife first saw it, she envisioned that space to be perfect for a home gym.

I agreed.

We're starting small. We have a not-overly-used treadmill and I have a stationary bike apparatus that allows me to convert and use a normal bike inside. We're looking for an elliptical machine (if you have one that works and you would like it gone from your house, let us know...). We're even going to set up a Nintendo Wii unit and pretend to play tennis and such.

For the past week, we've been de-cluttering and organizing. We have a ways to go until we're finished, but little by little, things are coming together. We've worn ourselves out by all the work we've put in. Interestingly enough, we'll now try and wear ourselves out in other ways. I hope this resolution sticks. After all, we've already done a lot of work to get this far--might as well keep it going.

Hence, one way to make a resolution successful.

If You Hated 2020...You'll Probably Hate 2021

 When my mother-in-law was investigating a new place to live, she asked a realtor familiar with a particular area what the neighborhood was like. She asked, "What are the people like that live there--are they nice?"

The realtor asked a very interesting question.

"Well," she said. "How are the neighbors where you live?

My mother-in-law responded, "I love my neighbors where I live."

The realtor then said, "Then you'll most likely love the neighbors here."

There's a lot of wisdom in what the realtor said.

As the final embers of 2020 cool and will soon die, many are posting thoughts and opinions about the year that was. The consensus is it sucked. And, my most accounts, it did. There were a lot of negatives about the year, quarantines, shut-downs, elections, events/trips canceled, covid, sickness, and death. People can't wait until the clock strikes midnight and a new year (per the calendar...) begins. Most who have expressed dissatisfaction with 2020 hope 2021 is better.

2021 may in fact turn out to be better--for many that would not be difficult, but I think back on the realtor. If you think last year was bad, next year will probably be the same. Even without the sickness, death, and elections, many would have had a tough 2020. Life is tough sometimes.

Of course, I may just be full of it and don't know what I'm talking about. Then again, I may be right after all. I hope I'm wrong--I hope things get better for everyone. The trick will be how we react to whatever comes down the pike. And as with most things, time will tell.