Dear Kid,

I’ve been thinking about New Year’s Resolutions. Studies show that the vast majority of people who make NYRs break them before they recover from their New Year’s Eve induced hangover.

Nonetheless,

For 2016, I resolve

To drink more water. How I will measure this is completely unclear since I have no idea how much water I drank in 2015. But I’m committed to trying up my dihydrogen monoxide intake (yeah, I just really wanted to say dihydrogen monoxide).

To spend more time with friends. Not sure how I’ll do that since it is just plain HARD to make 24 hours a day stretch to 27 or so. But I’m committed to trying.

To brush the puppy more often. I know how to do that one (take brush in one hand and puppy in the other…), but I’m not sure exactly what it will accomplish since shedding is his primary occupation.

To drink less coffee. (Not really. But it looks impressive on the list so I’ll leave it there a little longer.)

To get more sleep. See above comment about figuring out how to get more hours into the day. But maybe I can give up a few hours of TV in order to get some additional shut eye.

To start AND FINISH a crafts project. Starting is no problem. Finishing could be a bit of a sticky wicket.

To keep the kitchen counters free of clutter. Yep. Right after I give up coffee and bad TV.

Perhaps I’d better rethink this list.

Love, Mom

Dear Kid,

First things first. Turns out that Clemson trounced Oklahoma University the other night. My apologies.

Tomorrow is the first of January (you knew that, but I needed a transition).

Many people focus on resolutions for the new year. They make promises to themselves for all sorts of things (and by “all sorts of things” I mean weight loss, new job, working out more, etc.).

Those resolutions generally last somewhere up to 6 days, 8 hours, and 49 minutes.

Yet we (and by “we” I mean most of us) make resolutions, knowing we are unlikely to keep them.

The Japanese have a different approach.

The new year is a very important holiday in Japan. Rather than focusing on resolutions, the Japanese hold “Bonenekai” or “forget-the-year-party” to say goodbye to the problems and troubles of the past year and prepare for a new beginning.

Rather than making promises for the future, they release the old and make room for the new. By opening themselves up to the possibilities of the new year, they create room for whatever comes their way.

It’s a very different way of looking at things.

It’s one I think I’m going to try this year.

Goodbye 2014—it’s been nice knowing you.

Hello 2015—I can’t wait to see what you have in store for me.

Happy New Year, kiddo!

Love, Mom