New Years Resolutions, Past and Present

I’ve been reading other people’s blogs this morning about New Year’s resolutions. Most of them go something like this: “Another year has passed, blah blah blah… this year I’ll lose 20 pounds blah blah blah…”

Then I came across something fresh and funny: one blogger’s resolutions from 1978.

My New Year's Resolutions, Age 11

1. Do more serious astronomy.
2. Cut more grass = Buy more records.
3. Build a pulley system in the fort.
4. Develop a network of hiding places.
5. Learn 6502.
6. Run more.
7. Hit some home runs!
8. Study the Aztec and Olmec civilizations.
9. Take black and white pictures of everybody.
10. Write down funny things that happen.

December 31, 1978 10:32PM
--Raul G.

Now those are some resolutions!

Thinking back, my resolutions at age 11 probably had something to do with writing more letters to NASA; convincing my parents to let me get my ears pierced; and getting contact lenses instead of the glasses that were broken or bent every other week in soccer practice.

What exciting times those were! Resolutions were all about doing more, discovering things, building things – not quitting this or that bad habit.

Sure, I had a few bad habits back then, but I was 11! Having a messy room and skipping violin practice were rites of passage, not things to put on my list of resolutions. The world looked very big to me then -- wide open with possibility.

This year, I’m going to write my resolutions like I did when I was a kid, when I knew that anything was possible. I'm going to think in terms of what I'd like to do, not stop doing.

I’d like to write more, play outside more, spend more time with friends, build a few great websites, help the children, fall in love, get my book published…

And hit some home runs!

Happy New Year.

Until next time,

Conna