It’s not a spelling error; I really did mean revolutions vs. resolutions.

rev·o·lu·tion (noun): 1. Overthrow of government, 2. Major change, 3. Complete circular turn, 4. Circle around something, 5. Period of major geologic change

I read an article in the local newspaper, The Standard Times, which talked about the percentage of people who make New Year’s resolutions and what type they make. Dieting and fitness always top the list, along with quit smoking, quit drinking, save money, blah, blah, blah. By several weeks into the New Year many folks have quit their diet, stopped going to (or never joined) the gym, started smoking again, and… well, you get it.

Rabbi Rami Shapiro told a Spirituality and Health reader in his question and answer column that they should add this resolution to their list, “I resolve to break all of my New Year’s resolutions. This way, if you break all the others, you will have kept this one. And if you break this one you will have kept the rest. You can’t lose.”

Is that cheating? Probably. We impose upon ourselves unrealistic expectations and then beat ourselves up when we can’t achieve them. That’s why they should be called New Year’s Revolutions. We’re asking ourselves to make major change, a complete circular turn in some cases, when we will probably just circle around it and whatever “it” is may take a period of major geologic change. Just like in the definition above. It might be easier (and time better spent) to overthrow the government.

I stopped making resolutions a long time ago, probably because my vows to get back on my diet happened every 2 months, not once a year. Mostly unsuccessfully, I might add. But January always feels like the right time to shed all the excess of the holidays. When I went to my first Weight Watcher’s meeting of the New Year the leader asked, “What are your feelings about coming back to WW after the holidays?”

My response? “Relieved.” And I really meant it. So why am I having such a hard time jumping back into my routine?

I gained 0.2 lbs. over Christmas, so it is not like I went hog wild. I maintained my exercise regimen as much as I could, and tried to plan for what I knew would be my excesses. There were situations where the trade offs were between homicide and a cocktail. I headed for the bourbon.

There were situations where the trade offs were between homicide and a cocktail. I headed for the bourbon.

I’m settling back into my normal routine now, and maybe it’s just the cold weather, but I want I really want to do is to sit on the couch with a blanket and eat things. The struggle to get rid of the last 10 pounds is tricky. It’s right there within striking distance and yet so, so far away. So I will shoulder on through dinners out and the occasional glass (or three) of wine, and hope that I keep on the straight and narrow long enough to get to goal. Then the REAL work begins; maintenance.

Maybe I’ll go start a revolution instead.

Deborah