I can hear the damn weigh scales calling me from the bedroom. “I dare you!” “Come on, let’s see how bad it is!”” Bet it’s worse than last year!” I’m getting good at ignoring its snide comments until the bottle of Pinot Grigio in the fridge chimes in louder than one of Don Cherrys suits, “Hey! There’s only one glass left in here! “You aren’t going to drink more wine are you?” Wait, that last voice was my mother’s, who also by the way, informed me just last week, that I wasn’t getting any younger and I should really start that novel I’ve been yammering about for years. Then there’s the gym membership I’ve been paying for over 2 years although I haven’t darkened the gym’s door since I realized everyone could lift more than two pounds, run on the treadmill while still having a full-on conversation with the person on the neighbouring Nordic climber, and hadn’t even broken a sweat let alone the no-swearing rule.

There are all kinds of resolutions I could make. Okay should make. Lose weight, exercise, eat better, drink less, save more money, buy less things. But the reality is, I have made all those resolutions before. More promises to do better than my ex ever made.  And sadly, much like my ex, I too never kept them. In my New Years resolutions, what have I gained? 1)  About twenty pounds, sorely testing the limits of the lycra in my Lululemons,  2) Spent the equivalent of Iceland’s gross national product on alcohol and accumulated a collection of wine bottles that would probably finance a tech start up company, 3)  a collection of outfits that is best described as a tribute to What Not To Wear, and finally, 4) Made my financial advisor cry.

Do I think having a plan to do better is good? Absolutely! But, I have come to the conclusion that I don’t need a tradition to dictate when I should make changes in my life. It almost feels like after a holiday season filled with good cheer, we are supposed to feel a little guilty about just how much fun we had and so it’s time to bring on the stoicism and the hardcore resolutions. Yeah, I don’t think so my friends. I am going to revel in the joy! And if I decide to make any resolutions at all, I will make them more realistic and attainable. I will promise to lose 5 pounds and drink light beer instead of wine. I will ditch the austerity program and instead, think about cutting back by twenty percent. My goals will be modest but achievable. And the novel? That will keep for another year. My mom needs something to whine about.