Well hello, 2021!  It’s a new year and time for my annual attempt at a “restart” on some of my many annual resolutions.  I say “restart”, because – as always – it’s the same list I start on every January 1st (and unfortunately – eventually fail at).  I should really call these the new year’s endurance trials, because like any test of will, it’s usually a struggle to see how long many of these will last.  Oh, I’m hell out of the gate for the first week or two, but it’s rare that I make it to my one-month chip presentation on many of these items.  Let’s be real – some of these won’t even make it to MLK day (the 18^th).

My Fit-Bit tracker is back on my wrist and I’m trying to get in 10,000 steps a day of walking (about 5 miles).  This is largely due in part because my wardrobe will soon need a major “expansion” (due to my holiday overindulgence) unless some changes are made.  I don’t mind having three numbers in my weight, but I don’t like that the lead-off batter is a “2”.

Although my plant-based diet has turned more into a “flexitarian” one, it’s time to get back on the horse and once again reduce my meat intake.  Honestly, I felt much better last year when I was a stricter vegetarian/vegan, and let’s face it – we could all use more healthy fruits, vegetables, and grains in our diets.

Drink more water and get at least eight hours of sleep a day.

The Christmas stuff has been carefully put away in the attic for another year, and this time, I took the extra effort to cull some of the years and years of accumulated “stuff” that was associated with the seasonal décor.  I had boxes of holiday fluff that never get used, so it was time to thin out the herd.  Now if I can only do that to the entire attic, the basement, and the storage shed outside.  I may need to rent one of those large dumpsters that you see at construction sites.  Yes, it’s that bad.

Speaking of extra stuff, I sure do seem to accumulate lots of kitchen gadgets.  Sure, I like to cook and piddle around near the refrigerator and stove (and Lord knows I have enough specialized tools to do it with), so it’s high time to I get some of this equipment out and incorporate it into my weekly menu planning.  I’ve got crock pots, cast iron skillets, air fryers, waffle irons, Kitchen-Aid mixers, and “George Foreman” grills.  They should get used more than once a year (or see previous paragraph).

Unplug from the internet and concentrate on other diversions, like reading or my LEGO collection.  I usually read about five or six books a year.  I should double that.  My LEGO city now has a permanent home in the basement craft room as well, so it’s time to set it up properly and “expand” its borders. 

I have three guitars (and for some reason –a banjo) – when was the last time I played one?  I can’t remember.  I was classically trained in my youth, so it’s not like I don’t know how to read music and play (although the banjo remains a mystery to me).  I should get them out and practice a bit.

OK, Duolingo – for the third year in a row, I’m bound and determined to learn Spanish from you.  I have to review the 1^st third of your lessons again (honestly,”la tortuga come queso” [“the turtle eats cheese”] doesn’t come up all that much in casual conversation), but I swear, I’m going to make it through your entire lesson library.  If I can one day watch “Sabado Gigante” on Telemundo without subtitles, I’ll be a happy man.

As you can see, that’s quite a list.  I’m probably failing one of these right now as you read this, but hey, I’m in there punching.

What are some of your new year’s resolutions?  Drop me a line in the comment section below.