Unfinished Business: Resolutions

elephant_nyeIt’s New Year’s Eve morning, and I’m up bright and early to savor one last day of gluttony, sloth and various other deadly sins before my shiny new halo arrives promptly at midnight.

This time last year, I made – and kept – my three no-thought-required-oh-so-simple resolutions. This year, I’ve decided to go old school. Rather than list the new vegetables I vow to devour or the year’s bestsellers I intend to read, I’m going to delve into the resolution vault and revisit some unfinished business from New Years of yore:

Keep a diary (1987): While I’ll miss the security of the little green book with the ADT-approved lock, a basic notebook by the bedside should suffice. And let’s just call it a journal.

Read To Kill a Mockingbird (1999, 2004, 2009, 2014): I had the opportunity to not read this book three times in three high schools (Army brat) and I can no longer go on not knowing what a Boo Radley is.

Start saving for a new car (1996, 2003): If I could simply rip the plastic off my DVD collection, it would save me $37 at Redbox alone.

Learn to ski (2001): The last time I went skiing I ended up sprawled across the Alps with a concussion. Maybe next time I shouldn’t go so big.

Send birthday cards (2010): I buy them, I write them, I address them, I stamp them, I find them amongst a stack of Self magazines nine months later when the postage is no longer sufficient.

Use a planner (2008): I buy it, I fill in birthdays, I make a running schedule for January, I find it amongst a stack of Self magazines nine months later when I realize I’ve missed a teeth cleaning.

Speak French fluently (1992): Just a few more Beauty and the Beast viewings and I should have my accent down.

Start using the word “rad” more (1988): For unknown reasons this resolution was actually documented in one of my old little green diaries. Still sounds like a good idea to me.

As I inevitably join the gym rat race first thing tomorrow, I’ll know it’s not because I resolved to lose the three pounds of peanut butter kiss cookies I gained last week, it’s because I wrote down the commitment in my rad new planner and have a French copy of To Kill a Mockingbird on my iPad waiting to be read.

Do you have any old New Year’s resolutions you intend to resurrect this year?

Related posts: Starting Monday

About WhiteElephantInTheRoom

I'm an 80s music lover, traveling junkie, mac & cheese connoisseur, amateur wine snob, party-planning priestess and Chicago transplant living in Southern California. I find adventure in the everyday and have a unending compulsion to write about it. Hope you enjoy reading my mind!
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15 Responses to Unfinished Business: Resolutions

  1. stepheniegoad says:

    To Kill a Mocking Bird is a rad read. Just pour a glass of wine and commit 5 hours or so to it and you’ll know what a Boo Radley is. Good luck, Happy New Year!

  2. Lunar says:

    I’m in the habit of repeating things the following year whenever I don’t finish them. But I haven’t actually made any official resolutions for 2016.

  3. I love reading your posts. You are hilarious! Thanks for sharing your resurrected resolutions. In addition to losing 226.68 kilos, I am resolving not to date for a while… which will probably help with the 226.68 kilos, considering I will be doing a whole lot let binge eating of Ben & Jerry’s.

  4. cat9984 says:

    Maybe you should start reading Self online so your others papers can’t hide out.

  5. author1955 says:

    My resolutions are to: 1. Eat less; 2. Smoke as many cigs as I want; 3. Stay alive

  6. hhhh87 says:

    Every year get a six pack I’m still trying

  7. hhhh87 says:

    Every year it’s get a six pack I’m still working on that

  8. This is going to sound sarcastic but is true – I’m going to try to drink more wine. I didn’t have that much this year.

  9. newteach929 says:

    Reblogged this on newTeachrtips and commented:
    I really like this post because I don’t usually make resolutions, let alone remember what they were many years ago 😮 I decided to make one this year: to workout more – now that I dont have a gym membership just by being in college, it is up to me more to setup a routine either at home or at the apartment gym. Wish me luck!

  10. Mike Czar says:

    I love reading about resolutions. I think ideas for a better year are always refreshing. I have made some myself and have even started writing about them. I’d like to know how you’re sticking to it! By the way, I’m going to read that book as well!

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