One of the popular mommy blogs that I read asked for readers to post their new year's resolutions on-line. The blog received two responses from its tens of thousands of readers. I'm unsurprised, as I've never been a big fan of once-annual resolutions myself. Seriously, if you ask someone in August what her progress is on her new year's resolution, you're going to be met with a puzzled expression and a "huh?" I am big on goal-setting throughout the year, though; specifically, I like to set goals with measurable progress and a definite outcome. For example, last summer, I decided to play tennis again. My goal was to be able to play at a low-intermediate level (USTA ranking 3.0) by the end of the school year; I've now expanded that goal to a desire to play at a 3.5 (high-intermediate level) by the end of this calendar year and, with the Guv, to win the mixed-doubles championship at our club in Vermont by the time I'm 40. These are measurable, attainable goals with an end point.
But because people ask, and it's common mommy-waiting-for-school-pickup chat, I'm sitting here stewing over what I should say my resolution is. Right now, I'm going with "Be excellent to each other. Party on, dudes!" (from the sages Bill and Ted, of course). Because all of the usual other resolutions -- dieting, exercising, volunteering -- don't suit me. (I'm not being rude; I eat healthfully, exercise, and volunteer already.) All kidding aside, I'm thinking that perhaps the best resolution I can set -- not just for the new year, but ongoing -- is to live in a way that I would want my children to live at 34. Try new things (snowboarding!). Make time to be kind to ALL people (take a moment to chat with the elderly lady that asks Dash's age in the grocery store; ask if she has grandkids!). Accept change readily and with a smile. Turn a negative into a challenge if not a positive. Give more when you feel like giving up (apologies to Martina McBride). Spend more time having experiences together and spend less money on "stuff." Be less crabby, and smile more. Yell less, and laugh more.
In other words, be excellent to each other!
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