Resolutions You Can Embrace!

My New Years’ resolution last year was “drink more wine.” Now here was a resolution I could embrace! People seem to think they have to give something up for their New Years’ resolutions (lose 10 lbs., quit smoking, stop having meaningless sex. . . .) but they have their quasi-holidays mixed up. Lent is the one where you have to give something up that you enjoy (sweets, cigarettes, alcohol . . .). Nobody said you had to give up anything for your New Years’ resolution; you just need to say you are going to do something and do it. Why set yourself up for failure?! Make a vow that you are going to do something you always wanted to do, or do more of something you already enjoy (like drinking wine!).

Well this is funny – I decided if I was going to blog-on about the true meaning of “resolutions” that I better look the word up and make sure I’m right. As stated in my Encyclopedic Dictionary:
Resolution (n.): 1. the act of resolving or of reducing to a simpler form. 2. The state of being resolute;active fortitude . . .
Resolve (v.): 1. to decide or determine (to do something) . . .
Resolve (v.t.): 1. to solve anew or again . . .
Resolute (adj.) 1. having a fixed purpose; determined . . .
Considering the vast number of people who make the same New Years’ resolution year after year to lose weight, I think the references to “reducing to a simpler form” and “to solve again or anew” are quite ironic!

Getting back to last year’s resolution - I can stand proud and attest to the success of meeting this goal. I have consumed WAY more wine this year then in past years. Having previously been proud of my Beer-Goddess status, I think that wine has perhaps surpassed beer as my intoxicating libation of choice. (Lucky for me it’s not an either/or thing – I can have my Zinfandel AND my Guinness!)

So what will it be this year? I really can’t stick with “drink more wine,” because at this point, I’m not sure that more wine would be a good thing. Maybe I can strive for better wines? Or the consumption of some eclectic collection of wines? Or find a new fun topic to explore? Hmmm, well, I have a couple more days to figure it out!