New Year's Revolutions

by Jewel Leann Williams

I don't make New Year's resolutions.

I almost fell off the couch watching a new (to me) episode of Phineas and Ferb wherein the "evil" villain, Dr. Doofenschmirtz, creates the "Resolution-Changer-inator" to change everyone's New Year's resolutions to "follow Heinz Doofenschmirtz, our new leader." He then starts to run off to take over City Hall (and the Tri-State Area, of course), but no one in the crowd follows him. He asks, "Why aren't you following me?" and a guy says,"C'mon, nobody ever keeps their New Years' resolutions" and they go back to dancing.

Of course this is owned by Disney. 

Yeah, that's me. I would've been totally safe in that crowd. No chance of helping Doof carry out his evil plan.

So, I don't even bother.

But, let me tell you what I do. I recommit to trying just a little harder. I see New Year's as a chance to remind myself to hit the refresh button on ongoing goals I do have. I can hear President Hinckley in my head:

May we go with determination to try a little harder to be a little better.  (General Conference, April 1995)

So, I'm going to dust myself off and keep marching, with a little more determination and spring in my step.

One goal, which I made in earnest a few months ago, is to stop swearing. I had an epiphany that was in no way related to the fireworks and the ball dropping, but more to the faces of my kids when I dropped a choice word at them (usually when I was angry).  I looked up "how to stop swearing" and found the old rubber-band-on-the-wrist-inator. I put it on, and snapped it when I said a bad word, and man, does it hurt. My swearing dropped to almost nothing almost immediately. I still think the words, though, but I am almost completely successful and not letting them out of my mouth. I can see myself slipping back into it very easily though, so I haven't quite retrained my brain yet.

So I'm going to continue with that goal, with that process.

Another is the soda thing. We all know it's terrible for us, but for me it's also a way to stay awake and alert at work. Sugar and caffeine--two of the 4 major food groups, right?

Saying "no soda" is a pipe dream. But, doctor is worried about me, so I am trying to cut it down as far as I can. Going to continue that process.

Scriptures. Gonna keep trying to read more and more meaningfully.

Prayers. Gonna keep trying to say them more often, and more meaningfully.

See the theme here? It's "gonna keep trying." I don't need a new year to tell me that's what I need to do, but it's nice to have the big glowing reminder every once in a while.

To take a page out of Dory's book, in the New Year, my "resolution" is:

http://theperksofbeingateengirl.tumblr.com/post/84208068319