A Clean Slate

The New Year has arrived, bringing with it the hope of something better. I've been thinking about  something better, but I believe the best practice encompasses being grateful for the year that I just stepped out of instead of running from it toward a clean slate like some fashions dictate.

I've heard that 80% of all New Year's resolutions fail. Exercise and losing weight are, no doubt, near the top of the resolution list. Great things to want to do, but having spend many years in the gym, I've watched some of the New Year's crowd enter with gusto and a never say die attitude that soon lead to exhaustion and failure. I am not suggesting that I was warned by the oracle, or just knew better. In those days, after a bit of weight lifting, five minutes on the treadmill was, thankfully, all I could muster. Yes, I felt a wee bit embarrassed, especially when I looked around and saw greatness, but I survived. (These days it's walking and a little yoga.) I've heard Rome is still a work in progress.

In the past few years I haven't made any outright resolutions.  So this year I've decided to throw caution to the winds and resolve. Of course, we all have our private resolutions, but among those that could due with an airing, I resolve to be absolutely grateful for last year. (Lessons were learned. Good times had with family and friends. Things were accomplished. The sun burned away the clouds. etc.) Also, I resolve to enjoy the world around me more; take more time to dwell on the beauty, and last, but by no means least, I resolve to be a little more creative because that's where bliss lies for me.