Resolutions and Revolutions (Lynn Kerstan)

The Usual New Year’s Resolutions:

Lose Weight

Exercise harder and oftener

Declutter the apartment

Write, write, write

Take on a new and challenging book project

Volunteer, cheerfully

Be politically and socially active

Be more attentive to my friends

Brush cat’s teeth four times a week

Consider washing the car

Yeah, right. Moving on to:

Semi-Realistic New Year’s Resolutions

Lose Weight by not drinking a whole bottle of sparkling blueberry juice every day. And while you’re at it, let go the triple ginger snaps and the bagel chips. (Fat chance. Literally.)

Exercise daily, even if it’s only a one-mile walk or 20 minutes of stretching or weights. Do more whenever possible, but don’t skip a single day! (Uh-huh. Dreamer.)

Spend 15 minutes a day cleaning something in the apartment, not counting the usual tasks. (Just as well. I rarely do the usual tasks.)

Declutter the file cabinets. (Get real. Filing something is forever. That's the whole point.) Move on to closets and drawers. (But I need that stuff!) Also bookcases. (Yes, Lynn, that means giving up some books. Sound of primal scream. Not books! Never gives me up any books.)

Finish writing the book-in-slow-progress before the end of February. Essential. All else--except exercise--is secondary. (This one I can live with. Maybe not actually do, but I'll throw myself into it. Love Love these characters and story.)

Never mind that "challenging new book project" notion. (For once, a smart evasion. Make the book you are working on now as exciting as it feels in your imagination.)

Volunteer. Yes. (But not because I’m generous. Basically, I’m greedy. And I have this on Good Authority: "Give, and you shall receive.") Besides, I’m strangely happy and exhilarated when doing things I’d rather not be doing for people who will benefit if I make the effort.

Be politically and socially active. (This is a must, and for the same greedy reasons. I enjoy the company of dedicated, well-informed, interesting, witty people.) And I love working with them to accomplish good things.

Be more attentive to my friends. (That mostly means email and phone calls, because in the last few years, I’ve lost touch with local pals and bonded closely with long-distance buddies.) But too often, I am the weak link. It’s up to me to help keep the lines of communication open.

Brush the cat’s teeth. (Yuck. But he actually likes it. I just keep forgetting. At least, I don't have to floss the little guy.)

Wash the car. (But what’s the point, really, with all the dirt kicked up by excavation and construction in this neighborhood? A waste of water, time, energy, and global responsibility. That’s my rationale and I’m sticking to it.

And why is it easier to stick to rationales and excuses than to our New Year's Resolutions? How about you? What have you resolved to do? What excuses will you dredge up to keep from doing these things? Can you find one or two resolutions worth serious--even revolutionary--dedication?