I do not believe in making New Year's Resolutions. I used to though. I promised that I would do these things:

I would quit smoking.

I would drink more water and exercise more.

I would lose weight.

I would be nicer to everyone.

I would develop a backbone.

I would be a better mom.

I would be a better wife.

I would surround myself with nature and good music and positive thoughts.

I would bake more.

I would eat less.

I would ... I would ... I would.

The problem is I am not all that good at keeping resolutions. I would pile on a ton of resolutions and then get so frustrated because none of them would come true. I must have the ADD when it comes to resolutions.

Imagine my sense of relief when I found out that it takes 21 days to create a new habit. So when I fail to keep a resolution, I can just say that the habit hasn't kicked in yet and the sense of guilt is gone.

That doesn't mean that I don't create worthy goals for myself because I do. I just don't do it at New Year's. I do it all the time.

I quit smoking eight years ago in middle of summer when my husband made a very simple comment to me about his concerns about my smoking. He just mentioned that he didn't want to see me get sick. I told him that he was already sick then was silenced by his comment afterwards, "At least I am not killing myself on purpose."

That was my last pack of cigarettes.

If I stop working at being a better wife and mother, then it would be pure chaos in this household. I am the lone female in this house and if I give into the snarling hormonal monster that resides in me every single day, it would be hell to live here. I try to reserve that hormonal mess to when I really need to get stuff done ... other than that, I try very hard to contain it. Whether or not I succeed remains to be seen. Ask again in 12 years when I am done with perimenopause and menopause.

I love the results of working out, I just hate exercising. I hate getting my workout clothes on and get out into the bitter cold and get into a cold car just to work out for half an hour. I am a lazy lazy person. I joined Curves last year and it didn't help me lose the weight. In fact, I gained weight. Not only that, I was so sick every time I worked out. No, I am not allergic to exercise ... I literally picked up every single bug that every single woman brought in there. No amount of handwashing helped. I am not kidding. My membership is up in February so I have a couple of months to decide whether or not I want to work out there.

I did eventually lose 15-18 lbs, but not from working out. It was from being sick.

As a foodie, I am now working diligently on bringing healthy food into our meals. I've rediscovered spinach and home-made food, not the processed stuff that comes out of a can or a box. I am working harder at turning a deaf ear (pun intended) to my sons' cries for the mac & cheese that comes out of the Blue Box Mom! You know ... I lived on that stuff during my younger days so I do know what the appeal is. The older and hopefully wiser me is learning that it's made of chemicals that I cannot pronounce and therefore should not eat.

Easier said than done. Though a friend of mine did give me her home-made mac and cheese recipe and it is now a family favorite (except for one son who turns his nose up on it).

As for the other resolutions, well, I am counting on resolving them throughout my lifetime because lets' face it, those character traits do not happen overnight and they are lifetime learning opportunities. It is just a matter of picking oneself up over and over again until someday, someone will say to you that you're just one of the nicest persons they have ever met.

Hopefully, that will be before I die.

Happy New Year everyone!