Resolving resolution

I've never been much for New Year's resolutions. Oh, sure, I appreciate the idea of setting a goal or two for personal betterment -- I mean, who doesn't look in the mirror and see those parts of themselves that could use a good tweaking or even outright replacement -- but appreciation only goes so far. A person must actually take the step of deciding which goals need setting, then setting said goals, and finally, with something approximating wholeheartedness, willfully attempt to reach them.

It all sounds simple enough; making a resolution ought to be easy, and hey, it usually is. It's not as if you're out to achieve the utopian ideal -- although if you are, Godspeed -- but even the most basic resolution is strewn with pitfalls that would pale the hale-and-heartiest among us.

The number one resolution made by men and women in the United States, year-in and year-out, is about weight loss. So, for demonstration purposes, let's say that I step on the scale on December 31st of this year, take note that I weigh -- oh, maybe -- eleven pounds more than I'd like, and decide to wave buh-bye to them before the close of business one year later. So far, so good. I mean, that's less than one pound a month of weight loss. Should be child's play. I'll exercise, I promise myself. I'll eat more salads, less French fries. And I'll keep a better watch on my stress levels.

Flash-forward, let's say, six weeks. Am I keeping my resolution, or have I let it slide?

How about six weeks after that?

Have I been exercising like I said would? Have I been eating better? Am I controlling my stress?

(Am I asking myself enough questions? Am I loading each question with enough self-doubt?)

Weeks become months. By the time I look at the calender again, it's Dec. 31 once more. I step on the scale, and wouldn't you know it, I still weigh eleven pounds more than I'd like.

Now, if I made the resolution seriously, and truly intended to make the effort to lose the weight, then didn't see the result of whatever work I'd put in, I'd likely feel more than a little disappointed in myself -- even when I did everything right.

However, if I made the resolution merely because I had a flash of vanity while standing on a scale on New Year's Eve, it's more than likely that, once again, I'll take a short, sad look in the mirror, and once more pledge to lose those eleven pounds. (Really, I'll do it this time.)

I guess what I'm saying is that making resolutions is fine -- but it's the follow-through that counts. And part of that follow-through is to remember that success and failure are not necessarily absolute. It's important to remind oneself that even a reasonable goal might not be achieved right away, even with the best intentions and efforts.

As for myself, though, I'm resolving to not make any resolutions for 2009. I'm pretty sure I can keep that one.