New Year's Resolution

What better topic for the first day of the New Year right?  I checked out just how many people in America actually make resolutions, (45% according to statistics from 2012).  Of that, the rank order of what is resolved to change is foremost, To lose weight (no big surprise there); then Getting organized; spend less and save more (good idea); Enjoy life to the fullest (nice ideal but obviously flawed by the spend less resolution);  Staying fit and healthy (nice ideal too but way too vague to be meaningful. Does having one less double-cheese-burger at THE VORTEX fill the bill for that one?);  then there are the predictable; Learn something exciting; Quit Smoking (number seven on the priority list mind you, so how sincere is THAT one?) Help others in their Dreams (yeah, right); Fall in Love, and spend more time with Family.  I consider the last three items as grabbing at straws to make a ten list since they’re really never obtained and rarely taken as serious faults if left unattended. 

   Of interest are nearly as many Americans DON’T make resolutions as do (38% compared to the 45% of the above).  Of those that participate nearly half have infrequent success, which means to me those who seek improvement readily can cite where they have accomplished something, where those who fail do so in such a total-and-complete manner they don’t bother sifting through the rubble to find where there was progress; and that’s unfortunate.  Most, (47%) of the resolutions are focused on self improvement, and that’d include education. Now 75% of the resolutions are maintained through the first week of the year, something that surprised me, I’d have given it a few days. But, and here comes the really sad part, only 46% are still maintained at the six month point; so we are fickle or easily distracted.

  But hey, I’m from the glass half full school of observation and deem that as wonderful news towards improving one’s lot in life.  For me, I’ve given myself a dose of pragmatics when delving into resolutions.  I embrace more kindness, less bias in processing, and overall acceptance.  True, I can’t measure that in terms of pounds or accumulated sums in the bank.  But I can keep faith in the idea that quality is build on the foundation of values; and what I choose to value, I will invest my interest and my care.  

Then, who cares what the numbers predict?  I’m on the moral high ground of my living well.