Whatever you think of resolutions, I hope we can all agree that January is a lousy time to make them.
Okay, actually after the holidays and the start of a brand new year, is an excellent time to make them. It’s just that in my part of the world, with short days and frigid temperatures, it’s a rotten time to keep them. It’s a time of the year when many of us feel we need comforts, not challenges.
So I’m proposing a new tradition, July 1 resolutions.
First, July is a spectacular month in my personal calendar. It’s the only month in which my work actually slows down.
June is all Congress and then Convocations. August, we’re starting to get ready for the coming school year. But July? It seems like half of campus is on holiday.
Second, the days are long. It’s warm. And it’s just all round a great month. We’re starting it this year with a Canada Day backyard BBQ.
So I’m going to put all this positive energy to work. I’m resolving, recommitting really, to my two big, ongoing goals. Daily writing and daily riding.
How much? An hour of writing and 20 km of riding.
I’m also committing again to no new clothes purchases with one important exception. The exception is two new work outfits for the fall. I need some new Dean clothes.
Those three are familiar goals to people who know me and to regular readers of the blog.
But I’m also resolving to deal with all the stuff and mess in my house. It’s a complicated goal because there are lots of people coming and going and who keep things here. We’re all coming and going and packing bags and leaving bags of stuff. We’re also all super busy.
I think I’ll feel better if I chip away at it. So I’m adding to my July 1 resolutions to clean and tidy 20 minutes a day. That’s resolution #4.
It’s the hardest of my resolutions. Wish me luck!
