by Mint

Created on: September 24, 2010

New Year's resolutions are a waste of time. Or are they? Each year we put together mental and physical lists detailing our top sins and plans to overcome them in 12 short months. But by April or March, the battle is lost. This year will be different, at least for  me. No more broken promises to myself, today I resolve to do the following eight things for an entire year:

1. Exercise daily. I'm no fatty, but I've been envious of women who can exercise as readily and happily as the rest of us mere mortals eat a pint of Hagan Daz.

2. Become a vegetarian. I like meat, so this one bites. But, I realize that as we get older, there's a definite need to cut back on unhealthy indulgences. I can't give up sugar, coffee, or ice cream, so meat will have to do. How I'll handle the occasional urge for a big, juicy, greasy burger or a steak from Morton's remains to be seen, but I'll give it a shot.

3. Go au natural. I'll shave my pits and legs, but the rest will be totally 1960s hippie. Not sloppy hippie, but a kinda neat, slightly clean, Nordstrom's kind of hippie. It's tough to explain, but think Ali McGraw in that old movie (can't remember the name) where she played Steve McQueen's love interest or the character that she played in Love Story. I don't know; this one will have to evolve with the passage of time.

4. Be more Jewish. I'm not, but my son has decided that he's going to be "a real jew" so I'm motivated. I've been to temple during the high holidays, purchased a menorah, sat Shiva for a few dearly departed friends and neighbors, and we're committed to celebrating Hanukkah. Admittedly, it's not much, but I've got an entire year to step up my game and be a better example for my little boy. He really has a calling.

5. Love myself more. Not physically, though that wouldn't be a problem. Still, the kind of love I'm talking about is more akin to learning to take the time needed to pamper, indulge, and focus on meeting my own needs. Again, this one sounds simple, but I'm a mom, a wife, and a career woman. As such, time is not my friend. But no more in 2010. Next year I resolve to be more intuned to my needs and look less to others to provide me with the "good feelings" that I can provide myself. Then, perhaps I'll work on the physical self-love.

6. Visit a museum a month. I want to be a renaissance woman. This one ties in to number five, but the goal with this one is to simply broaden my understanding and appreciation for culture, history, art, and things outside of the realm of here and now. All museums count, though, so there may be a month or two when I visit a children's museum with my kid.

7. Cut out credit cards. The wages of sin is debt, or is that death? Whatever, I don't like owing anyone anything, so I'll need to dump those obligations to Bank of American and Chase. I don't like banks anyway, but they seem even more sinister in today's economy. In fact, I have an acquaintance who's staring down a stint at a federal prison in part because of her need to settle credit card debt. Now that's a sickness we can all avoid...

8. Blog daily. It's cathartic and I'm delusional enough to believe that somewhere, somebody really gives a damn about what I have to say on any given subject. I may be talking at the air, but it sure feels good to feel important to a bunch to strangers. I draw the line at tweeting though. I'm pretty sure no one gives a damn about a blow-by-blow accounting of my day and if they do, it's time to get a life.

Can I keep these up? I'm guessing that I can, but a few family and friends are placing bets on how soon these will all go the way of the VCR. I'll need help, but don't we all.

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