(In honor of the New Year, this is adapted from a previous blog posted December 2013:)

It’s the beginning of 2016, and I’m lobbying to change New Years resolutions to New Years reso-hope-tions. Are you in? I’m thinking by January 7th you might be. By January 14th you will be. And by the end of the month you may even evolve to New Years reso-what?tions.
(If you add a couple characters to the question mark, it could even look like you are swearing by then. Which if you are a Christian may be limited to Darn, Shoot and Uck.)

It’s that time of year when many of us make a list of things we want to do (and likely won’t). But what if this year we cut ourselves some slack and said if there was even one we were able to keep- then maybe, just maybe, it would be worth it?

You’ve all heard the quote: Aim at nothing and you’ll hit it every time.

There’s even a proverb extolling the benefits of planning ahead: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%2021:5&version=NIV
However this same book also says that we should hold our plans loosely when we make them. Because you never know what might derail you from your course. (Which if you hold on to faith, often turns out better than you could have planned).

With all these things in mind, I still think its worthwhile to jot some things down that you want to accomplish this year.

Clean slate. New you. Lots of grace.

So here are 7 resolutions to pick from (#7 being most important):

1. Lose weight. (usually the first to write and the first to go. But how do you begin a list without it?)
2. Be easier on your kids. (special out clause if they are teenagers)
3. Slow down and TAKE IN what’s around you. (https://laurieshort.com/the-importance-of-taking-a-pause/)
4. Tell people what you’re feeling right when you are feeling it.
5. If you make a lot of money, consider a presidential election.
   
6. Remember even if you’re in prison, you STILL could consider a presidential election. (http://blog.lauriepolich.com/hero-in-our-midst/) (redemption for #5)
7. Never, ever, ever give up.  (borrowed from a certain Englishman with the initials WC who nailed this whole resolution thing).

And most of all, remember this… one kept resolution is all it takes to make your list worthwhile.
And this year, I personally recommend starting from the bottom up.