Bright Ideas

I have never and will never make New Year’s resolutions. New Year’s resolutions are a matter of promising yourself to change habits. No promises will be made by me, just a best effort to change. By not making any promises, no promises will be broken.

I once heard it takes two weeks to change a habit: two weeks of a changed behavior. That’s hard to do. No use of tobacco can easily be eliminated. When dealing with addiction, whether to chew or smoke, requires something akin to tears and exhaustion. Men are not likely to cry — women would. I did when I quit smoking, December 1975, seven months after we arrived in Australia.

There were no aids to help a person quit smoking, but I have never tackled a task intending to fail. I committed to do what it took to succeed. No resolution was needed, only extreme effort, a few tears and persistence. My husband stood by me and was happy beside me when my struggle ended.

The expense of tobacco has increased tremendously. Who can afford addiction without depriving family members of food or heat?

I never resolved to lose weight, although I needed to. I didn’t realize how much fat rested on my narrow frame. I tackled the task of removing fat, and never retreated. Thirty pounds later I looked better. I quit there. I could have removed ten more pounds, easily.

What else do people resolve: exercise more, be kinder, more understanding, bolder or braver, quieter or silent? What did you resolve or promise?

Until next time.