Ten New Years Resolutions

It seems that year after year, the same resolutions pop up to remind us of our failures of the past year. How many times I have heard, "I'm going to stick with it this year". The only New Years resolution I have ever kept to date, I made about 15 years ago. That resolution was to never again make a New Years resolution. Nevertheless, my friends and family members continue to resolve. Here then are the most popular resolutions I've heard.

1. "I am going to lose weight this year." This resolution seems to come most often from those who are 20 or more pounds overweight. Diets seem to be a top priority for New Years resolvers.

2. "I am going to get fit this year." A close relative to the weight loss resolution, this resolution will usually include exercise and possibly better eating habits. Have you ever noticed how busy the gym is on Mondays? That's only a drop in the bucket compared to the crowds after the beginning of the new year.

3. "This year I am going to get out of debt." The Associated Press December 23, 2007 advises that, "Americans are falling behind on their credit card payments at an alarming rate". We hear news report after news report of the housing market and foreclosures. Is it any wonder why, getting out of debt would be a high priority on the list of New Years resolutions?

4. "This year I am going to save money." Good luck! If you can find a way to balance debt with savings, you are ahead of the pack.

5. "I am going to spend more time with family, this year." Where were you last year? Digging out of debt perhaps? With many Americans working long hours trying to meet the responsibilities of just putting food on the table and a roof over their heads, it is no wonder we are feeling the loss of family time.

6. "I will better apply myself at work this year. I want that promotion." With the financial pressures upon us, it is only natural that trying to get ahead at work would fall into the list of resolutions.

7. "I am going to expand my education." No matter how educated a person is, they should never stop learning. Sometimes education can come from the most unlikely places. To search is to know.

8. "I am going to stop smoking." Habits of all kinds fall into this category. As we resolve to make our lives better, healthier, and happier finding a way to break a habit, be it smoking, drinking or biting our nails if you succeed it can give you a lifetime of self-pride.

9. "I plan to get organized this year." With our work-a-day lives, it is only natural for things to end up where they do not belong. Who has time to clean out the closets or even keep their receipts straight? I find the older I get, the more I leave things out in a cluttered manner, just to remind myself of things I need to do.

10. "I want to travel." Now that you have lost some weight, enjoyed healthy meals with your family, joined the gym to get that 6-pack, worked harder, gotten out of debt, managed to save a few dollars by stopping that annoying habit that was eating up all your spare funds it seems the most natural thing in the world to organize a nice vacation on a beach somewhere to show off your new figure.

Happy New Year!