I Resolve To . . . Crack A Joke & Have A Laugh!

This little beauty, 'Maude', in the photo, is one of my cherished possessions. My Mother gave me the replica of Maude, a kitty-character created and made popular by San Francisco photographer John Lund in his book Life According To Maude: A Photo Essay. Mom gave it to me last summer when I was recovering from a major surgery. While I was confined to the couch and working on my laptop, Maude stared back at me from behind her glamorous sunglasses. She sat on her perch on the coffee table and I stayed busy with work and creative projects to avoid going stir crazy (I am a very active person and not one to let grass grow under my feet). Maude brought a smile to my face during some hard times and she holds a special place in my heart, reminding me to lighten up and have more laughs. She also resembles my best buddy, BJ, a 19-year-old, orange tabby cat who has been with me since she was six-weeks-old and also holds a special place in my heart.

With that in mind, I recognize that a serious attitude day-in-and-day out is no fun, even if you're going through some rough times, so I intend to 'Have A Sense Of Humor', on good days and not so good days, as part of my I Resolve To . . . Challenge: 365 Resolutions For Health & Happiness. Why not join me? The objective is very simple: Do at least one thing each and every day to promote health and happiness for 'YOU'. Banish the 'Someday, Someday, Someday Syndrome'. Instead, make every day New Year's Day. Make every day count. The list of possibilities is infinite and can be tailored to your own dreams, resolutions and daily goals. If you need some help - a little nudge, a bit of inspiration, tips, advice, and news about the best ways to make resolutions a reality - please use IResolveTo.Com and the I Resolve To . . . Group at Gather as two of your resources. Resolve365 in 2009.

There are many different ways to lighten up. One way is to simply not take myself so seriously. I work at that since I can be somewhat serious and reserved, at times. Another way to lighten up, when worrying and stressing over something, is simply to ask 'what is the worst thing that could happen'? Sometimes the fear of the unknown is worse than the 'worst thing' and when I identify those fears and bring them out into the open, it really boosts my confidence, mood and attitude. The worst thing probably won't happen, and I remind myself of that, so I don't create a whole 'new' set of worries about things that 'probably won't happen'.

Another way that I try lighten up is to see the humor in situations and things that happen in day-to-day life. Some folks can brighten a day with a joke. I am not one of those people, unfortunately. When I make a joke that is actually funny (it does happen occasionally) there is a pregnant pause, my friends look at me, and then laugh, sometimes out of sheer shock that I made a joke and got the punchline right. I can remember kidding with a friend about my small indoor/outdoor menagerie of animals. I told him some folks have kids. I, however, decided to have a 'petting zoo'. He blinked at me for a few seconds, said "that's really funny", then we had a good chuckle over coffee. Along that vein, here are some Knock-Knock Joke websites that I discovered in my daily effort to learn and try new things. Enjoy your day!

Remember: I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year. It's your choice. Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps: Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good! Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey! Let's Go For It!

Kim Simpson, a former journalist, provides communications, fundraising services and strategic planning, for Members of Congress, non-profit organizations, corporations, and associations in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. A self-employed entrepreneur, with more than 30 years of experience, she launched IResolveTo.Com in 2005 in an effort to help others to achieve their New Year Resolutions, Dreams and Goals. Her motto is: I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year." Let's 'Go For It'.

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