Resolving Door

          You know I don’t like resolutions.  They’re like diets—you get all excited about them, then two weeks later they become a source of guilt, fear, and hatred, all rolled into one.

Instead, I think we should set small goals throughout the year, tweaking and adjusting our character to improve in small increments. It’s much less intimidating.

So I’ll share my latest little goal, and the fact that this comes just before New Year’s is merely a coincidence.

My goal is to say less.  I shall explain.  I was one of those overachiever little Hermione students, hand thrust into the air in first grade, gasping, “Oh—oh--” to let the teacher know I had the answer and wanted to be called on.  It never occurred to me to ratchet down my enthusiasm: I didn’t even know what obnoxious meant.

In business meetings I still open my mouth several times, catch myself, and close it again.  But I later regret having so many opinions. And in Sunday School class I have limited myself to two comments per class, max.  It’s an ongoing struggle.

So I said to Bob, “I have a new goal.  It’s to say less.  In meetings, in Sunday School--”

“In marriage?” he asked, eyes filled with hope.

Fat chance.  “Are you kidding?” I said. “I have to have an outlet to vent somewhere.

Of course, this conversation preceded my dash to the grocery store where you will never believe what I saw.  This car.  This message.  I’m sure it’s a coincidence:

Have you ordered my books, here, yet?  Don’t make me nag…