Every holiday throughout the year has traditions. Parades are held in cities and towns on Independence Day, July 4th. Thanksgiving tradition has been bad news for turkeys since Colonial times. Ringing in the New Year brings the ‘ball drop’ in Times Square in NYC and the singing of Auld Lang Syne, the words of Robert Burns in a poem written in 1788 to the tune of a traditional Scot folk song.
Another tradition by millions of dedicated celebrants of the calendar change at midnight, December 31 is the making of at least one resolution.
For the uninitiated about resolutions, it is a sobering commitment to stop doing something you shouldn’t do or start something you should do. A resolution is a promise that deepens one’s determination and dignity.
Everyone should make at least one resolution every New Year’s eve. The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions goes back to 153 B.C. (before I was born). January was named for Janus, the mythical king of early Rome who had two faces, one forward looking; the other backward looking. Janus became the symbol of resolutions that promoted forgiveness of enemies and gift-giving before the New Year began.
Do you need a little help to conform to the world-wide rules of resolution making? Here are some suggestions: Get a better job, go back to school, start your diet, get more exercise, quit smoking and quit drinking.
One of the greatest errors made by those who make genuine resolutions is . . . procrastination. We put off starting that in turn creates despair. My actions and advice assure unqualified success in resolution fulfillment. Here they are:
Starting with getting a better job, if you know of an opening, please let me know. I’m working part time and have latent skills that haven’t been tested yet. I have spent years in school, but I’m going back right away. I have taken courses at Virginia Western Community College and I have met Dr. Robert Sandel. I plan to drive by the campus every week or two and wave at those crossing the street and hope that President Sandel will wave from his office window.
The nutrition pyramid contains five important elements: caffeine, alcohol, fat, grains and chocolate. I plan to cut that nasty caffeine from six cups of coffee to just 5 cups daily. Several of my doctors have told me that I should exercise more. I visit the bathroom several times each day and night; since WWII, it has been fashionable to call it “the john.” I’m going to start calling it the Jim so I can tell my doctor that I went to the Jim several times yesterday. Another doctor suggested that I walk around the block a few times. A concrete block has been in my garage since the house was built and that is going to be in the middle of the garage floor and I’m going to walk around the block many times daily, maybe oftener.
On April 6, 1976, I awoke about 5 am and found that I was out of cigarettes. Since the price had gone up to almost 50? a pack that was a good time to quit. I did and that was almost 40 years ago. I’m gonna quit again! Some years ago after my doctors prescribed multiple medications that I should take to sustain my languid life style; my internist told me that I could drink beer, wine and liquor. One important caveat was that more than one sip could bring on pain and suffering.
Scotch whisky is my favorite beverage so I had a couple shots recently that tasted great. As I started to bed, some food items, medications and scotch got into a serious brawl somewhere below my esophagus. Sitting, standing, lying down or walking didn’t reduce the discomfort. Sitting up all night on the couch, hostility between the combatants abated and I was able to sleep through the Sunday morning church service to regain a modicum of unshaven dignity. I will remain alcohol free and the ladies of the WCTU (Women’s Christian Temperance Union) would be proud.
Please; I implore you, make your resolutions and carry them out as outlined. Don’t procrastinate.
Dick Baynton
