Chicago Chick: New Year's Resolutions

I know that it's too early to make any New Year's resolutions or to even be thinking of them, but I am. It's typical of me to think way too far ahead thus spoiling the moment that I should be enjoying.

This past Thanksgiving, I participated in an 8K Turkey Trot in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Don't get too excited; I walked the 8K with my good friend, D. One thing is for certain - one has a lot of time to think on a long walk. I think the conversation started with "I cannot believe that it's Thanksgiving. The year has gone so quickly! blah, blah, blah." I asked D if she made any New Year's resolutions and she said that she could never remember making any.

I told D that this year (or was it last year) I decided to make resolutions each month. So, at the end of the year I had at least 12 months to get something right. This year, I made a secret resolution NOT to get pregnant and have a baby for a 3rd year in a row. Yes, I know that that is probably an easy resolution but why leave anything to chance. Pretty funny for someone who was once called reproductively challenged.

Sorry - I digress. So this year I am planning on doing the same thing. No, not the NOT getting pregnant resolution (although I'm really not planning on having another one), but making monthly resolutions. There are the usual resolutions like going to the gym and saving money and getting organized. But, this year I thought I would make bigger resolutions, list the tasks to get the resolutions, and make the tasks my monthly resolutions.

Confused? Okay, let's say that I smoked a pack a day - but I don't in real life; it's an EXAMPLE - and that I wanted to quit and become healthier. The steps would be (1) cut down to a half pack (2) find a walking program I could live with (3) cut down to a pack a week (4) walk 3 times a week for some specified time (5) cut down to a pack a month . . . and so on. So, in January, I would cut down to a half pack and in February, I would find a walking program I could live with, etc.

Just typing that smoking thing made me a little anxious, so it's a good thing that I don't smoke. I know one of the things is going to relate to running which I haven't been doing enough of lately. I'm thinking that maybe if I started with my resolutions in the middle of December, it would give me some time to practice or to readjust my expectations.

I'm thinking that one of my resolutions for 2007 should be not to be such an overachiever and to enjoy the present!