My New Years Resolution, Be Myself!

by Jeanine
(Newport, VT)

This year I decided that instead of the common New Years resolutions, you know, the ones where you promise yourself you will watch your weight, lose those pounds, be a better friend, or pledge to volunteer more, I want to make a different kind of change.

Life is tough enough. I would like go into the new year laughing. And feeling just a little less pressured by people and situations I can't control.

My resolution is to try and be totally me and stop feeling bad about any part of it. I want to quit apologizing. Just be myself.

This one resolution could make me feel less bothered by lots of little things. For example:

I will feel good about not laughing at dumb jokes over the water cooler at work, and refrain from apologizing as I sometimes do.

I will allow myself to feel just a little irritated at the check out when the woman in front of me has fifteen items in the ten-or-less line. I will not feel guilty or apologize for being irritated.

I will not feel so sorry for every homeless person who asks for a handout that I continue to give out the last few dollars in my wallet. I could be homeless next.

I will stop pretending that my siblings don’t annoy me. They do. I think next time I’ll tell them how I really feel. Well, maybe the time after that :)

I resolve to stop helping those who never return a favor. I am tired of feeling like a doormat. The next time my neighbor asks a favor, I may just say "No." How liberating it would be if I could pull that off!

I will no longer send as much of my hard-earned money to feed the hungry in Africa and Ethiopia. In these times, I resolve to provide for my own children first. And save more.

This year I resolve to laugh ... not apologize ... at every idiot who blows his horn in traffic or tailgates me (didn't he get the hint to back off when I slowed down to 25 MPH in a 45 MPH zone?)

One last thing: I swear to watch my weight (again). I might watch it shrink or I may even watch it grow. But I do swear to watch it.

Now that I got that off my chest, I feel better already!

Jeanine