The other day I was in a motel gift shop in Las Vegas. The town is obviously gearing up for the annual influx of new year's revelers coming to town. Among the trash and trinkets were a variety of souvenirs touting Las Vegas 2008. I won't be joining the Sin City celebrants, but seeing the souvenirs got me to thinking and I realize I need to come up with my own, personal and special way to say goodbye (and good riddance) to 2007 and hello to the new year.
When I was young, my friends and I used to try to figure out how old we would be when the year 2000 arrived. It seems so far off back then. And we'd in in our 30s! Ancient by middle-school standards. Now, 2000 seems so long ago, with 2008 just around the corner.
I have been been a big fan of 2007, so I won't be shedding any tears over it's departure. Maybe just tears of disappointment about wasting another year of my life sitting still. I'm not saying it's been an awful year or anything. It's just been, in a word, dull. Or the way I've lived it has been dull.
I've never been one for making resolutions for the new year, but this year I may make an exception. I haven't quite settled on the wording of what that resolution might be, but I want something to look forward to, something to strive for with the turning of the calendar page. I don't know what 2008 will bring, but it has to be better than this. I need to make it better than this.
Do people still make new year's resolutions? If so, will you resolve to do something better/different in the coming year? What might that be, if it's not too personal to share? I'm not looking to borrow someone else's resolution, but I would be curious to know what folks in the blogosphere aspire to in 2008. Maybe your motivation will inspire me, and others, to reach higher and farther in our goals of self-betterment.
If you have any suggestion about how (or where) to celebrate the new year (particularly if it's in the Salem-Portland area), I am open to stealing a good idea there outright. Or just tell me how you plan to spend the new year. I can't remember what I did last year, which tells you how memorable that was. Maybe that was the problem, I didn't kick the year off right and the whole year suffered.
Perhaps that's my first resolution right there.
I resolve to ring in the new year with a little flash (or at least some fun) for 2008.
That's one resolution down.
2 comments:
zzzzzz....zzzzzzzzzz....Wha'? Huh?...zzzzzzzzzz
I could have helped you out ten yrs. ago, G-Man. But I'm old now, and ring in the New Year from the safety of my home. As Paul and I were married Jan 3rd it sort of is just a quiet celebration of looking back and looking forward.
But I'll give you a few resolutions.
1. Take more chances. (I'm taking photography courses, and of course I'm scared. Mainly of failure)
2. Make more eye-contact with strangers. As well as smile.
3. Slow down and look around me. Whether for a flower, a person or a sunset.
4. Quit smoking. (This one has been on the list for well over a decade now) lol-oh well.
5. Try and connect more with my kids.
6. Be a better friend. (ie; return emails in a timely manner, return phone calls. Just in general not be quite so flaky)
If I were to give advice; which you know I never really shy away from, it would be for you to put yourself out there! Make eye-contact, make dates. And smile at all potential dates. Unless there's a ring on her left hand, she's fair game.
Now go forth. And date! ;-)
I wish you all the best in the coming New Year, G-Man!
BIG (((HUGS))) and love your way, my friend.
3T
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