A Toast to Laughing in 2011

Have you ever made a resolution that you’ve followed through on? Whether it be quit smoking, save money, lose weight, start exercising, or eat better? 

For some reason that word “resolution” scares me.   

res·o·lu·tion (r z-l sh n) n. 1. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination. 2. A resolving to do something. 3. A course of action determined or decided on.

The definition sounds positive enough, but the results for the people who set them are overwhelmingly negative.  I just read in a NY Times blog, “Four out of five people who make New Year’s resolutions will eventually break them. In fact, a third won’t even make it to the end of January.”

What’s the problem? Experts say the word resolution has people thinking too broadly as opposed to setting specific goals.    And it’s like one little derailment, and folks give up. 

When I asked my friends about resolutions, they surpisingly responded with success stories.   One girlfriend set out to lose 15 pounds and she did it.  Another friend resolved to check out more library books and drink more water and she also made it happen. 

I have never  set a resolution before.  And I don’t know if I would call this a resolution. But this year, I am  going to make an effort to spend more time laughing with my friends and family and less time stressing about work and sweating the small stuff.   My goal is at least one laugh a day.   

Last night, I was lucky enough to get a week’s worth of laughter watching my hubby compete against a dear friend in our Dad Dance-off. 

So as we dance and laugh our way into 2011, may we remember that every day is filled with new possibilities, if we open our mind to it. 

Happy New Year!