You Say You Want a Resolution II

Last December, when Mike's At The Beach was relatively new, I had a post on resolutions.  You know, those things that we all make but rarely keep.  I thought it might be fun (or maybe painful and embarrassing) to go back to review them, take stock, and either update or make some new ones.  Here's last year's post:

Dec 31, 2012--You Say You Want A Resolution... 

So we arrive at the dawn of a new year.  It always seems to be a time of new beginnings.  Or at least wishes for new beginnings.  We look back wistfully, or proudly, or disappointingly and sometimes think of what could have been.  We also look forward.  I like to think most look forward optimistically.  That the new year will bring new challenges, new opportunities, new successes.  At least that's what I try to do.
I'm not huge on resolutions, but they can be fun.  They can also sometimes make us think.  Make us think about what we can be...what we should be...what is good for us and bad for us.  Unfortunately, many resolutions (I RESOLVE to do this!) don't last long.  They get forgotten in our hectic lives.

So I'm gonna try...try to state them...try to work on them...try to keep them.  Maybe I won't be totally successful, but I'm going to write these down, keep them in mind, and this time next year look back.  I hope it will be proudly...not wistfully or disappointingly.  Here they are:

Honesty--This might be pretty difficult.  We all take the easy way out on this one.  We don't say what we think.  Of course, it's very important to take feelings into account when giving your opinion.  Sometimes you need to be sensitive to hurt feelings.  But most times it's tempting to give the easy answer.  To tell someone what they want to hear.   To wimp out.  This year I RESOLVE to be honest.  You want my opinion, you're going to get my HONEST opinion.  If you don't want it, don't ask for it.  If you don't want to read it, leave here now.  I would say I was pretty successful at this resolution.  Just ask my family.  :)  And I think it's a good one.  I like to think that this trait is now something I'll continue so it comes off the list as a specific resolution.  
Unsubscribe--This one will be easy.  I get way too much nonsense email.  I RESOLVE to unsubscribe to things I don't need/want and keep at it throughout the year.  Ditto here.  I did a good job of unsubscribing.  I still get too much spam but am pretty good at a continuously unsubscribing to the crap I don't care about.  Again, I now do this pretty routinely.  Don't need to think about or resolve to do it.  As my wife would say, "good job, baby!"
Exercise--Need to do more of this.  I'm a pretty active person.  I get in the gym regularly...but not regularly enough.  I get out on a bike ride regularly...but not regularly enough.  You get the picture.  So this year I RESOLVE to exercise on a regular basis.  Wish I could say an interval or time schedule, but the reality of my life/job makes that not doable.  But this time next year I'll know if I fulfilled this resolution.  This one was hit and miss.  If you were reading my blog at the beginning of 2013 you'll know I broke my arm pretty badly on Jan 1.  That put a pretty big crimp on my exercise.  And when I was back in fighting shape in the late Spring, we decided to move.  That also took a lot of time.  So around the injuries and excuses, I think i did an okay job.  One thing I did that I really like is  to start going to the gym at 5:00 am to get the day started.  I'll continue that.  And this is definitely ONE I'LL KEEP.
Moisturize--This is another easy one (hey...I need some that are no brainers!).  My doctor tells me to do it more.  My wife tells me to do it more.  I can look at my skin and realize I need to do it more.  So this year I RESOLVE to apply moisturizer to my skin more regularly.  Little did I know that I would take so much crap about this one.  I mean seriously, grow up people.  :)  I'm going to keep doing it but I'm not going to resolve to do it.  I'm done with mentioning moisturizing!
Getaway Place--we (mostly me) have wanted to get a second home for a while.  I think it would be great to have another place in a resort area for a getaway.  And do it regularly.  And do it more and more.  Right now I'm focused on a condo in Mammoth.  The area it all.  Four seasons, lots to do (hiking, biking, fishing, skiing, golfing, festivals, and much more), pretty reasonable, close to drive to, etc, etc.  But I need to do some more research.  But I RESOLVE to narrow the choices, go visit the target area, and pull the trigger.  Hopefully we'll have next Thanksgiving at our place in Mammoth.  Stay tuned.  This one was a total bust.  But not from the perspective of not buying a getaway place.  We did the research.  We visited Mammoth and other potential areas.  We did a lot of soul searching.  And then we stumbled on a great home to buy right here in So Cal.  And we realized that if we want to getaway we'll rent, not buy.  Makes way more sense for us.  Plus we have a great Marriott Timeshare that is always available.  It was great to write this down and take action.  It really focused the effort. But it doesn't need to be repeated.  
Electronic Sanity--I really like technology.  I have many of the gadgets that connect me to the world.  I'm all about the web.  It's revolutionized our lives and mostly for the better.  But lately I've become sort of disenchanted with how pervasive they can become if we let them.  I've experienced people who are truly over the top.  People who can't let it go.  They check their devices (whatever they are) constantly, as if there is some all important message or information that needs immediate attention.  It got me thinking...what did we do before these things?  Did we pay more attention to each other?  Were we more aware of our surroundings?  Did we give each other more respect?  So this year I RESOLVE to put the devices down and leave them down more often.  I mean...it's just not that important.  Jury is still out on this one.  I think I've done better.  I do consciously put the devices down.  But I still have a pretty strong connectivity.  So I need to keep pressing.  ONE I'LL KEEP.
Weight--Okay...you knew this was coming.   Who doesn't go on a diet on Jan 2nd?  Jan 2nd because there are just too many good things to eat while watching football on the 1st!  I'm a big guy and carry it reasonably well, but could stand to lose some weight.  Especially at my age, I gotta eat better.  Of course, that's difficult because I like food so much!  But I'm gonna try.  This is one that will definitely be judged this time next year and I'll look back either proudly or disappointingly.  I'll let you know.  I'm about where I was.  The broken arm really kicked my ass.  And I travelled a lot.  And I was distracted by the move.  And I like to eat...whine, whine, whine.  Truth is, I still need to focus on this.  ONE I'LL KEEP.
Try New Restaurants--Here's another easy one.  I blogged a while back about going out to eat.  We go out pretty routinely.  But sometimes we get in a rut.  Go to the same places over and over.  Nothing wrong with that and nothing wrong with being loyal.  But it's also cool to try new places.  Literally, every time we do we enjoy ourselves.  So we're going to try and explore new restaurants.  But now that I think about it, maybe not so easy.  If I'm going to lose weight, I better choose wisely in exploring new restaurants.  :)  By any measure we did a great job at this.  The move helped.  Lots of new restaurants explored.  Some real favorites found.  We'll keep doing this but I don't need to focus on it.  
So that's it.  I usually think of a few things in my mind and then go about my business.  But writing them down is helpful...and a bit scary.  I mean...they are out there for all to see.  At least everyone who is reading.  Check back next year, same time.  I'll let you know how I did. 

Finally, here's a quote about the new year that I really like.  Pretty simple and straightforward...and one that after all is said and done I can aspire to...
“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better person.” –Benjamin Franklin

So now I need to add to the list.  I mean, what fun would it be to just reference the old ones.  So like last year, I have been thinking of a few things that I really should do or try.  So in addition to the continuing ones above, here's the 2014 list:

Learn to play the guitar--This one sorta scares me.  I'm mean, I'm an old dog.  And you know the saying about old dog's and new tricks.  But I've wanted to learn to play the guitar for a long time and just haven't pulled the trigger.  So I'm going to get a guitar and take some lessons.  I might suck.  Hell, I'll most likely suck.  But I'm going to do it.

Take some pottery lessons--Okay, I'll admit, maybe I've gone off the deep end here.  But I remember my wife taking some wheel throwing classes in college and I went with her a few times.  And it was really fun.  So if I can find some classes at the local adult school that fit my schedule, I'm going to give it a try.

Get involved with a service organization--You know what they say.  You're either part of the solution, or you're part of the problem.  Don't know what it will be yet, but I'm going to look for some way to get involved and give back.  It might involve the community.  It might be veteran related.  Don't know.  But I'll figure it out.

Go to more cultural live events--We always like going to plays, concerts, live events.  But we don't do it enough.  So in 2014 I resolve that we are going to increase our involvement with the arts.  Maybe get a subscription to the Globe.  Maybe do the same for the Summer Pops.  Maybe look at other venues more closely.  It's all enriching.

Get serious about the next phase of my life--I'm coming up on a crossroads.  If you've been reading you know I can see retirement on the horizon.  When?  Don't know but within a few years.  Maybe sooner.  But then what?  I'm not a spring chicken, but I've got plenty of energy.  I want to contribute, have fun, use some of my experience to make a difference, have fun, travel, have fun...you get the idea.   As long as my health is good I'm going to be engaged.  The question is doing what?  More to come on that...check back next year.

Okay, that's enough.  I've learned not to be overly ambitious in setting goals.  Much better to achieve a few than have many with spotty results.  Check back next year to see the results.