The New Year

A new year, a clean slate. Time to start over.

Sure pholks, we all know the drill. Turn over that calendar page for a fresh start. Lose weight, stop smoking, cut down on the drinking and get spending in line with what you really can afford. Become more organized, rearrange the furniture, and make more time just for you. Treat the dog and cat even better and be more considerate to your spouse, lover, boy friend, girl friend, the postman, friends, golfing partners or anyone else who plays a big part in your daily life. If you have kids be either more strict, more tolerant, or listen more often and closer than in the past.

Let's get one thing straight right away, pholks, I gave up New Year's Resolutions years ago. I resolve not to ever do it again.

Don't get me wrong, all of the above, where applicable, are things I've been working on for some time with no consideration for the calendar. I would consider myself a hypocrite if I told anyone what I promise specifically to do over the next 12 months, starting, of course on New Year's Day, knowing darned well that I could never realistically be 100 percent successful. Why set yourself up for failure and disappointment?

I look at it this way: Rome wasn't built in a day. And if I were destined to be a nearly perfect human being I would have accomplished that in less than 61-plus years.

I know it will never happen. I'm not a genius, but I am a realist.

I have mixed feelings about those who make New Year's Resolutions. I admire those who have the resolve to improve themselves. We all know people who never change. We deal with them every day. And when the phrase "He (or she) will never change" is used it is rare that it is used in a complementary way. There are exceptions, but right now I can't think of one. So I admire those who at least try to improve. Those "who will never change" may, of course, include those who always fail, but that can't be helped.

While I admire those who at least attempt to improve, it is a fact very few, if any, will achieve any significant amount of success.

On the other hand, there are those who don't even consider doing a thing to be a better person or make some kind of adjustment. That is a trait I do not admire. Some of them really believe they don't need to improve.

We can not ignore the fact that the change of the New Year is big business. Millions are spent on weight loss, fitness, health care and hundreds of devices each January. Gyms, spas, health clubs and the like do the vast majority of their new business when the year changes.

Just watch TV, read the paper, and check out your daily mail. The New Year is great for the economy. That's a good thing.

Personally I have never joined a gym or tried a diet. I don't plan to but I do try to keep in some kind of shape. I lost about eight pounds from about a year ago, but I credit that with a little luck, a little more exercise and some better eating habits. But I know I didn't make any plan in January, February or any other month. Sure, it would be nice to drop a few more pounds in 2006 but I refuse to set a goal. I also plan on continuing to become a kinder, gentler soul and do some good deeds as often as I can this New Year.

So pholks, I expect you will still recognize me whenever our paths cross in 2006. I should have a smile on my face since I will not have had to deal with disappointment for failing to live up to any New Year's Resolutions.