Can you smell it my dear girlfriends? As distinct as Chanel
No.5, or apple scented deodorant, here it comes, like a boxing day sale in
hell, the New Year. Make no mistake, I am a fan of rebirth (my closet is a
testament to the very fact). And when it comes to change, I welcome it with an
open mind and an AMEX card. Of course I will continue to embrace the new years
as they come as long as the following conditions are met:
I can still call it “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s” and do not have to refer to Ryan Seacrest’s participation in said event in any way shape or form. I know Dick is no longer with us, but certian things are sacred in this world. Old movies, Brunch and the Ball drop among them. I mean who are we as a nation if we can not have our rituals? Afterall it takes me 35 minutes to get ready for bed each night. Should I give up my face wash/alone time just because the world around me moves forward?
2 I am not subjected to an obligatory New Years
Eve Party where the scrutiny and expectation of the evening forever outweigh
the night’s enjoyment. But I maintain, I must be able to watch the BALL drop
from wherever I decide to ring in the new year.
3Real Champagne will always be provided,
preferably pink. A sparkling wine substitute will just not do. Yes Spain and Italy- I know you make a beautiful substitute but Prosecco is for that little Italian Villa I what to retire in when I win the lottery and my delusional future becomes reality. For now- 2013 must have pink champagne.
4My outfit is my choice. This is the one night of
the year where if I want to wear pajamas and a tiara, then by God I will. The occasion will not chose the attire-
I will. (Those of you who do not understand this last statement, think about
how you were- on picture day in grade school and you will now know what I mean)
.
5If I so chose, I am able to ring in the new year
as any grown adult past the age of 35 should be allowed to; fast asleep in my
bed, belly full, alcohol coursing its way through my veins as I sleep my way
towards a morning hangover.
Having made my list and checked it twice, I continue to be baffled by inventories of another kind… the ever dreaded New Year’s Resolution. Truth be told, I hate New Year’s resolutions. Each year we spend a good month of valuable planning time (you know who you are and be frank you time would be better spent cleaning your bathroom) anticipating the person we would like to be in the future.
Having made my list and checked it twice, I continue to be baffled by inventories of another kind… the ever dreaded New Year’s Resolution. Truth be told, I hate New Year’s resolutions. Each year we spend a good month of valuable planning time (you know who you are and be frank you time would be better spent cleaning your bathroom) anticipating the person we would like to be in the future.
Make no mistake, as human beings, anticipation is truly a
key to our happiness. I myself can wait for the my new book to hit shelves (insert plug for THE WEIGHT LOSS PRESCRIPTION here- on shelves January 1), the Oscars, The
Golden Globes and Fall’s Ready to Wear collections 2013. But I realized long ago
(probably around age 30) that planning for a change only delays it further.
Here’s what the evidence shows…
There is actually a study called the New Year’s Resolution
experiment done in 2007 on 3000 people in the UK. This research shows that
while 52% of participants in a resolution study were confident of success with
their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals. Men achieved their goal
22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, a system where small
measurable goals are used (lose a pound a week, instead of saying "lose
weight"), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public
and got support from their friends
Professor of psychology at Deakin University, Bob Cummins,
says making New Year's resolutions helps us feel better about ourselves.
"One of the fundamental features of human beings is
that we need to feel good about ourselves. It's a very, very strong need that
we have," he said.
In fact, Professor Cummins says making a New Year's
resolution is our way of seeking forgiveness and clearing our guilty
consciences.
"The end of the year constitutes a kind of secular
absolution that people earnestly say to themselves and their friends and their
dear ones, 'I'm going to change'," he said.
"This turns them into not only a good person because
they've got these good ideas, but it also makes them feel very good because
they're absolved of their sins during the past year and they're not going to do
these things any more.
"So in a way it's like an addiction in itself. People
just must make these very ambitious personal claims of absolution at the end of
each year."
And so, some years ago, I stopped it all.
I refused to spend another year standing on ceremony willing the change
to come. And my New Year’s
Resolutions faded into oblivion as I decided to take on each day…
And so, today
really is the day. Whether it is a ten pound weight loss or an exercise
regimen; quitting smoking to embracing bargain shopping; from bad habits to bad
dating… today is the day to get off “The Tomorrow Merri-go-Round”. I will not spend another year
with resolutions to fill as empty as champagne flutes.
So my dear cyber sisters, my advice on this dawn of 2013 and for all other new years to come is this… Be it resolved that we will live each day in a celebration
and promise. I will think of you
all as I done my tiara and my flannels and settle in for my date with Dick's memory and
his big crystal ball. And that is the best (and only) resolution I’ve made in a
long time…..
No comments:
Post a Comment