Resolutions

I don't watch TV at home, but during the holidays I spent some time visiting family and one day the tube was on to a morning talk show. The topic, of course: new year's resolutions.

The folks being interviewed explained how in 2012 they would spend less time on their iPads and more time with their family, how this time they would really, really lose weight, get organized, or stop spending money senselessly to save for that down payment on a house.

The sad part is that, instead of a serious exercise in introspection and goal setting, new year's resolutions have turned into just another excuse to go shopping: gym memberships and equipment sales go up, online courses sell like hot cakes, as do self-help books, PDAs, MLM business opportunities and weight loss programs.

A few weeks into the year, however, most people will go back to wasting time on Facebook, keeping up with the Kardashians, supersizing their fries and using that expensive new treadmill as a glorified clothes hanger. Most new year's resolutions aren't worth the paper (or the bytes) they're written on.

Do I have resolutions? Yes, but that's not important. Resolutions are overrated. The million dollar question is: what are we going to do about them? Most of us already know what we have to do; we're just not doing it.

There's only one resolution that matters: DOING THEM. I'm writing this not to preach, but as a note-to-self to kick my own behind when I see myself slacking off.