New Years Pondering

In the last minutes of 2006 I think of all the sub-new years I make for myself in the course of a year. How many times I fall and get up. Fall and give up, resolve to take a break from trying and find myself very tired because of it. There should be a lesson, and I hope one of these times that lesson will stick. Two years ago, I gave up meat (except non-shellfish)-- for health reasons, not humanity reasons-- although both are a good idea. Off an on I've given up coffee or soda. For the last two years I have gone on a fast right after Christmas, but I did not go that far this year. I just gave up coffee, and cola, and I hope to swear off donuts the way I have meat, since they are about the worst thing for you.

I could make a long list of things to give up, get more specific on resolutions, but I don't want to overdo it, or set myself up to fail. And I won't-- as long as I can say 364 days from now that I am doing better than I am right now.

All in all I just keep trying to take better care of myself, try harder, do better-- physically, mentally, and spiritually. And when I find I'm not doing as well as I would like to, there is no sense waiting for any certain date-- even New Years to get yourself going again. Each day is new. There is always room for improvement. There is always somewhere to progress. In about twenty minutes it will be the new year in my timezone. The ball has dropped in New York City, but I stopped watching it years ago. Sometimes, I'm not even up. But I find myself wanting to say something, even if I'm the only one who will remember what I say.

Happy New Year to whoever is listening-- but more importantly-- happy new day.