Resolution

Coming down the stretch toward the end of 2011. This past year has been a challenge and a blessing in so many ways. It is easy to focus on the negative - the family and friends lost (some way too soon), the challenges with keeping sane in an increasingly disfunctional world, and the everyday stresses of family and work. It is not always as easy to focus on the positive - watching my sons grow and learn, the weeklong family vacation with perfect weather, the quiet moments that present themselves if you let them.

This time of year many people will try to close out 2011 and start anew with 2012.  They want to compartmentalize each year, evaluate it seperately and make a clean break on things that they do not like or should change.

'Ah-hah!' you say, 'now is the part where we talk about resolutions and the like!'.

Those who know me will most likely have heard me say that the only resolution I have ever made is to never make another one. The modern New Years Resolution is an attempt to make a change in our lives or how we live them in one fell swoop by simply stating or writing down what you will now do and/or will never do again. They have become cliche', hollow and rarely are followed through. This line of thinking treats our lives like this year was one project that is ending and that next year is another project that is about to begin (compartmentalization).

Better to use another definition of resolution - quality of detail in image. While this definition is about photo or video images rather than life experience, I find that it fits well in describing what I do. I do my best to self evaluate - give myself some constructive critisism, some praise (we all at least some things right) and determine what I need to work on more moving forward. Trying to reconcile the quality of detail in the image I have of myself and my life with what is actually going on outside my head.  To put it another way, I wish to bring my life more into focus. 

We are all travelers on a journey that ends the with the same result. Taking time every so often, say, every 365 days or so, to check how we are doing and make adjustments just might mean that our trip is more enjoyable and lasts longer.

Here's to all of us striving to be better people every day until our time on this earth ends - no matter the date on the calendar.