Don’t get too hung on resolutions

As 2011 creeps ever closer, it’s time for us to draw our lines in the proverbial sand and resolve to improve ourselves.

Whether that may be finishing a long-forestalled project, cutting out a bad habit or squeezing in a good habit, goal setting is an essential aspect of a fulfilling life.

My little brother George has already helped me out in this regard, as he gave me a new Ab Gym workout machine for Christmas. Until I get that gift assembled, I have come up with a makeshift sit-up system of my own, if I could only follow through with it.

My apartment’s upstairs loft will get the job done. I will hop over the wooden, crib-like barrier at the edge of the loft and wrap my legs around one of the posts. I then tie a guitar strap around my feet, lean back and let go.

The only problem is I haven’t quite mustered the courage to let gravity take over, but I think if I can get hold of a ladder I will be able to get my bearings and get used to the stunt. I will keep you posted. Kids, get your parents’ permission before starting your own loft dangling exercise routine.

If we put our minds to it, we can think of all sorts of bold pursuits to fill the new year. At reddit.com, a website I like to visit, somebody posted that they would like to resolve to do something they have never done before during each day in 2011. I lack the creativity to think of a new idea for 365 days, but I found the gist of the idea remarkable. Who knows how many experiences await us if we simply seek them out?

That’s the great thing about new days and years: The temporal milestones, as superficial as they may be, remind us that our routines are our own inventions, and that it’s up to us to change what we don’t like about them.

When I was 16, some friends and I decided that we would ball our hands into fists and then open them as wide as we could, repeating this motion 100 times consecutively, as fast as we could every day. We did this because we heard that doing so would allow us to crush apples with our bare hands at year’s end. We lasted about two weeks before forgetting, so I don’t know if it will work or not, but I invite you to try it and let me know how it works out for you.

However you occupy yourself this year, try not to stay too hung up in the same old routine. In the meantime, I’ll try not to stay hung up on the same old second floor of my apartment.