Taking A Stand: New Years vows may come and go

Don’t waste your time. New Year’s resolutions rarely, if ever, work as they serve mainly as a way to put off doing something you don’t want to do.

Think about it. How many resolutions have you made and broken over the years? No matter how easy or how hard, a New Year’s resolution, while entered under good intent, will be fleeting at best.

For example, on a lark last year, given my disdain for resolutions, I made a stupid but easy to fulfill resolution for the new year. I resolved to wear necklaces as often as I could. Easy enough, right? Hey, I already had necklaces and had worn them before. So, how many times out of 365 days did I wear a necklace? I’d say, being liberal here, about 10 times.

Given the fact I couldn’t abide by a painfully simple resolution, what’s the chances of clinging to a tough one? The experts, whoever they are, tell us the two most common resolutions are losing weight and quitting tobacco.

Hey, I see it in the weight room every year. The place will be packed come Jan. 3 with folks who haven’t worked out in roughly 11 months or so. They resolve to lose weight and get healthy but about 99 percent will never make it until March. They’ll come over, do a few sets of something or walk on the treadmill, wake up sore the next morning and start making excuses of why they can’t workout anymore.

Folks, New Year’s resolutions are a crutch. If you want to do something, don’t put it off until the new year; do it now. If you want to lose weight, don’t wait until you’ve gorged yourself over the holidays and gained 15 pounds. Begin before and get yourself in shape so you don’t have to feel guilty about those Christmas sweets. If you want to get in shape, go to the gym today, don’t wait until New Year because if you do, I can pretty well guarantee you will be fatter when you read my column this time next year. Why? Because by putting off until New Year you’re just procrastinating and you’ll keep doing it.

Hey, I was the same way over dipping. Every year, for years, my resolution was to quit dipping the Skoal and every year I’d throw away the can only to have to purchase a new one the next day. I found it easy to hinge my quitting the habit on the first of the year. It was great in theory but failed in reality.

So, what happened? One day a couple of years ago I decided I didn’t want brown teeth anymore and I wanted to keep the lip I have, so I just quit. I quit for myself because it was the healthy thing to do. If I’d waited until New Year again I’d be writing this column with a big ol’ dip of Skoal tucked in my bottom lip. No, it wasn’t easy to stop. I had constant cravings. But then again, the bad habits are always the toughest to stop. The healthy choice is usually the choice that takes the most resolve to fulfill, but in the end, you’ll be a lot healthier when you die from getting run over by the Greyhound bus that has your name on it.

Hey, I’m going to come up with another silly resolution this year, and I will likely break it quickly. However, anything important, well, I’ll address that when need be. I won’t lie to myself and wait until Jan. 1.

Duane Sherrill is a reporter for the Standard. He can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].