New Year’s Resolutions

Every year I promise myself I won’t make any New Year’s Resolutions. I hate them. Too many folks use them as a crutch so they don’t have to make a change in their life during the rest of the year. It’s also a self defeating premise for most. They set lofty or unmeasurable goals and then wonder where they went wrong. That being said, there’s nothing wrong with taking a look back at the year that has passed and thinking about what you’d like to change moving forward.

For those who’ve read my column for the past few years, you’re no doubt aware I’m a smoker…about a pack a day. Yes, I know. I’m well aware of what a nasty, expensive, deadly, destructive habit it is so you can save your speech. I’ve tried to quit once or twice but never really committed to it. As everyone I know who’s quit has told me, you need to want to quit or it will never work. Unfortunately for myself and those close to me, I have very little desire to quit right now. With several jobs that each come with their own unique flavor of stress, smoking is one constant that remains. I will say that I’m aware of the problem and do plan on doing something about it someday.

My son will be two in February, and I’d sure like to spend more time with him. Unfortunately, my current schedule just doesn’t permit for tons of “Daddy Time”. Again I’ll ask those wishing to impart their advice of how I should skip the work and spend as much time with him as I can, to kindly hold their comments. I’m there every morning when he wakes up and I tuck him in every night before bed, every night. It’s easily the two high points in my day and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I’m told by my wife who stays home with Eric during the day that all I’m really missing is a lot of tantrums and some thrown spaghetti at lunch time. Also she sends/posts photos and videos pretty frequently, so I stay in the loop.

Lastly, I’d really like to relax a bit more this year. That may sound funny to those of you who know how often my wife and I go up to Turning Stone, but between shuttling our Son to her parents house and winding down from life, we barely even get to enjoy those trips as much as we’d like.

This past week we went up for 2 days and it was great. However even a 2 day trip comes with my iPhone, Laptop and several email accounts, all of which go on unaware i’m trying to get away. It’s not as simple as just leaving them home or turning them off. It’s part of me. The need to “stay in the loop”. In the end, like most folks, I’m probably just afraid to know how little the world would really miss me for 2 days. Anyhow, an attempt at really “unplugging” will be a 2013 to-do.

So to recap, I’m not quitting smoking but I am aware of the problem. Second, I love spending time with my son, but still have to work…someone in this house has to. I also resolve to stop saying that as much. My wife hates it. Love you babe. Third – really unplug, which will include a week with no column. I know, it’ll be tough, but we’ll get through it somehow.

Happy 2013.

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