Putting resolutions on the record

Is there anything more guilt-inducing than New Year’s resolutions?

We tell ourselves we’ll lose 30 pounds, quit smoking and get more exercise. And by Valentine’s Day, we’re bummed out that we haven’t been able to make a dent in any of those.

Resolutions are especially easy to recommend to others.

We all know who should quit smoking, lose 30 pounds and get more exercise. It’s those other folks, not us. (Just for the record, I don’t smoke.)

But in an attempt at something approaching journalistic honesty, I’m prepared to go public with some own personal resolutions on my part.

Can I keep them?

Time will tell.

Here goes:

•Hike trails in at least two — maybe three — more Indiana State Parks. Connie and I have hiked Brown County, Turkey Run, McCormick’s Creek, Clifty Falls, Indiana Dunes, Spring Mill and Ouabache. But we ought to be able to add Pokagon and Mounds or Whitewater with no trouble.

•Pick up that one-page start to a novel that I wrote about a year ago. It was pretty bad, but at least it was a start. And it was a better jumping off point than the — mercifully unpublished — novel I wrote more than 45 years ago. That one should stay in the filing cabinet. A fresh start is worth a try.

•Lose some weight. Okay, is that a few pounds? Or is it more meaningful? At this point, I don’t know. But it deserves to be on the agenda. It probably deserves to be on the agenda for all of us.

•Acquire a baritone ukelele and master it. Back in the day, I knew more than a few chords and could serenade you with children’s songs from Raffi’s repertoire. But that old instrument is beyond repair, and I’ve been slow to replace it. For reasons that are hard to explain, I have since acquired a guitar. But I’m more comfortable with a baritone uke. The guitar will have to wait for some other year’s resolutions.

•Discover at least three new authors in the year ahead. I have a list of recommendations from an old friend. I have Christmas gifts just waiting to be read. But it’s always exciting to discover new voices and new perspectives.

•Continue the tradition born in 2019 to have Saturday lunch as a date with my wife.

•Get out my colored pencils and start drawing again. About 25 years ago, I went through a flurry of drawing and sketching. Was it any good? Who is to say? But it brought me great pleasure. Somewhere along the line, however, it got sidelined. It “fell off the desk” is how I put it at the time. There were too many other demands on my time, but I miss the pleasure of doodling and sketching and — maybe once in awhile — creating something that I’m happy with.

•Stay off Facebook. I am a rarity in my age group as a non-Facebooker. And I intend to stay that way. I’ve never figured out why I would want to trade away my personal and private information to a huge corporation that would then sell my info as a commodity. Email works. Phone calls work. Visits work. Facebook tends to be toxic.

•Maintain my less-than-rigorous workout routine. I might boost the number of push-ups or the number of sit-ups, but at my age I figure the levels are just about right. For an old guy.

•Visit at least one foreign country. This is a hard one because schedules and budgets are a factor. Last year, we only made it to Canada. I figure we can do better in 2020.

•Shovel the snow off the walk — with moderation. These days, I’m very aware of news stories about guys in their 70s having heart attacks while shoveling snow. So, while I still want to shovel, I’ll take it easy. Promise.

•Taste at least three new foods. That one should be easy. My wife is an excellent and adventurous cook.

•Clean out the garage. Again.