Happy New Year.

First, I realize this is a little out of character. I can't imagine my hero, George Costanza, talking about New Year's resolutions. Although doing everything against his nature and instincts worked out quite well for him.... so this is from me, not my alter-ego GCNOF.

I'd like to wish you all a happy new year. Next, if your New Years Resolution can be ruined in one day, you probably aren't going to keep it... So if you say you are going to swear off porn. That probably isn't a good New Year's Resolution. A more realistic one is "I will look at less porn this year than I did in the last one." Or I'll eat better than I did the year before, or exercise more than the year before. We, regulars at the gym, always joke about how crowded it is, in January and February; but we know will get our parking spot and weight machine back by March (at the latest).

So if there is some way you are still making progress on your resolutions, by say, April, you are doing a good job, or at least are above average. If it's a news years resolution that can stand some backslidding, even better. The key isn't to do something every day, but to keep doing it, whatever it is, in June.

A swim buddy of mine, pointed out that the Japanese way of looking at change, was to do one small thing each day. That way there is less to regress and progress is less intimidating. Like climbing a mountain, with the smallest steps, as opposed to making big jumps. The problem with big jumps? big falls. I think we all to some degree are scared or put off in some way by drastic change. As they say, easy come, easy go.

Progress, and learning are two things that can't be taken away from you. So I urge you all to vow to make this new year better in at least one.

What are my New Year's resolutions? To work more than I did last year; to write more; be better to the environment; get a better sleep cycle; and to stay healthy (fewer injuries; antibiotics).

ok. date more. don't just rely on the internet for dating. try to be as present as possible in a relationship. break up only once. appreciation everything I have. realize if I'm confused about the status of a relationship, the other person is as well. try not to think too much. and realize that most of the people I meet know (much) more or much less than I do.

(that's Donald circa 1955, making his dishonest New Year's resolutions, that's why he's looking mischevious. of course, yours and mine are going to be genuine.) Happy 2009!