by Mitch Lee
As a ten year old in 1976 my mind was not really tuned into what a New Year’s resolution was good for. I mean, it seemed to me you would have to give up something you liked.
I guess I could not see the bigger picture of getting better at being a good person since most of the resolutions I saw were my parents and their friends who were giving up, certain foods so they could be in better health.
Some made resolutions to actually get into better physical shape.
As for me, I didn’t really have anything I wanted to give up.
I liked candy, soda, and every sort of unhealthy food.
We rarely had enough in our house to make them seem bad anyhow. Perhaps I could give up broccoli or brussel sprouts?
No, I’m pretty sure my mother would not go for that.
I brushed my teeth, washed and wore new socks every day…what more could a boy do?
Even if I wanted to stop washing behind my ears or taking a bath I’m pretty sure the entire family would have vetoed them.
I liked fishing, hiking, and snooping around in the woods so I would not want to give those things up.
I know that if I decided to give up hauling in the firewood to fill the ring next to the wood stove I would be grounded, so that option was out too.
I enjoyed every sort of toy I had from my Matchbox cars, to my models and soldiers.
There really were no options there.
I really could not consider giving up reading as I had eight or nine books I was still working on all at once.
But possibly I could work it out with my fourth grade teacher to not have to do spelling tests.
This idea stayed with me for a few days, until I realized I could not work up the courage to ask.
I was stuck with no real options for something to give up on the upcoming New Year’s Eve.
On that dark evening we always went to our Aunt Maryann and Uncle Stu’s to eat and stay up late to welcome in a new and better year.
We children played with our new Christmas toys while our parents gossiped and giggled in the adjacent room.
It was getting late in the evening and my eyes were very tired.
My whole body wanted to rest, but my mind was still searching for a great resolution that I could really make stick.
I was curled up on a couch with my feet under me in a half-sitting Indian pose when the greatest of ideas struck me.
I would make a resolution that I would have no resolutions for the coming year. I would ban them all together.
As I fell into sleep I was certain I could go all 365 days without any resolutions.
—
Mitch Lee, Adirondack native & storyteller,
lives at Inlet. ltmitch3rdny@aol.com