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An Attainable, and Important, New Years
Resolution
Every year at this time I debate what my New Years
resolutions should be? Or whether or not I should bother
making any at all. With about 48 hours left to decide, I'm
trying to think of something attainable, but not automatic.
Well, maybe automatically attainable.
I always resolve to exercise more and eat less. Of course,
as I sit on my butt typing that I'm trying hard not to get
the Christmas cookie crumbs in the computer keys. I did get
a nice pair of warm workout gloves under the tree for my
early-morning brisk walks. Of course, they still have the
tags on them.
Another resolution I'm famous for making is to watch less
television and instead, read more books. The only problem
with that is it only works for the time between the end of
football season and the beginning of spring training, which
this year will last 12 days. Unless of course, you count
Sports Illustrated or the local sports page as a book (read
while SportsCenter is on the tube).
I could promise myself that I'd cut the grass before its
too long, weed the flowerbeds before the greens outnumber
the colors, or wash the cars before my kids leave me notes
on the windshields. But I know better than to think those
resolutions would still be intact come the spring thaw.
So rather than making resolutions that I know wont last
much past when this column goes to print, instead I'm going
to make one that I not only need to fulfill, but should
fulfill. One that I want to make sure I do, will cost
absolutely nothing and will make everyone involved just a
little bit happier.
I, Jon Buzby, resolve to spend thirty, uninterrupted minutes
with my two boys when I walk in the door after work. My
email and snail-mail can wait, the late edition of the news
will cover the same stories as the early one does, and the
morning newspaper will already be old news. My wife will be
thrilled to have two less kids (three if you count me, like
she does) to worry about while she's trying to get dinner
ready.
My oldest son is almost sixteen, the other almost one. I
know from experience that time flies. And I've learned from
having lived it once that I need to treasure any time I can
get with my kids. Whether its building a block tower only
to watch it fall, laughing at Sesame Street, or finding out
how the latest test or practice went, that initial thirty
minutes after work is going to be my time with my boys.
They will get bored with me much faster than I will them and
once that time is over the evening routine will begin.
Dinner will be eaten, homework will get finished, tubby time
will start, lunches will be made, emails can be answered and
newspapers read, and everything else that typically happens
on a school/work-night will go on.
But for that brief time after work, all of that can wait.
That thirty minutes is going to be my time. That is, my time
with my boys.
Are your resolutions attainable?
Here's to a happy, healthy New Year!
By Jon Buzby
Jon Buzby is a nationally-syndicated columnist who can be
reached through his website at
www.jonbuzby.com.
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