It’s January 1, 2007. I was just walking back into our living room where we’ve been sitting, Karen in the loveseat, me in the big chair with ottoman, listening to the 100 best songs list I created a while ago. It’s raining outside and a bit cold, but that doesn’t matter and is sort of fitting… it is Oregon after all, and January. I love it. So, as I was walking back into the room, “Home” was playing, it’s a pretty upbeat little tune by Marc Broussard, and as I walked in I started dancing. Karen saw me and immediately started calling out different dance moves… the chainsaw, doing the laundry, etc. I was doing them as she called them out, plus adding a few of my own. We were both totally cracking up. I thought… what a great way to start the new year… laughing, loving, being incredibly happy. It’s a very very good life.

Sitting here afterwards, I started thinking. You hear the word resolution a lot this time of year. People all over the world are making them… you know, you’ve heard it all… to stop smoking, start exercising and eat right, be more outgoing, work less, play more, save money, get a better job, etc., etc. The list could go on and on. So, me being me… I looked up the word resolution, and here’s what the dictionary had to say…

Dictionary
resolution |ˌrezəˈloō sh ən| |ˈrɛzəˌluʃən| |rɛzəˌluːʃ(ə)n|
noun
1 a firm decision to do or not to do something : she kept her resolution not to see Anne any more | a New Year’s resolution.
• a formal expression of opinion or intention agreed on by a legislative body, committee, or other formal meeting, typically after taking a vote : the conference passed two resolutions.
• the quality of being determined or resolute : he handled the last French actions of the war with resolution.
See note at courage .
2 the action of solving a problem, dispute, or contentious matter : the peaceful resolution of all disputes | a successful resolution to the problem.

OK, so then I was looking at the definition and trying to apply it to my life… thinking, what would my resolution be? I’ve never really been into them. But, if I made one, this year, what would it look like? And this is what I came up with… I’m sure it’s been tainted by my dancing experience this morning… and for that I have to say… thank god.

The Resolution: To dance spontaneously; laugh often; be kind even when I don’t necessarily feel like it; smile regularly; hold hands; tell the people I love I love them as often as I get the chance; watch the rain; tell the truth, even when it’s hard to do so; feel the sunshine; look on others with understanding… without judgment; take naps; snuggle watching movies or the day; appreciate moments of joy and moments of sadness; be considerate; feel a sense of connectivity to all living things; love myself; be empathic and sympathetic more than not; sing aloud to music I love; look at my Karen as much as possible and memorize even more of her face than I have; kiss; go into the world and really see it; listen… always; say hello to strangers; talk to waiters, waitresses, and clerks with genuine interest and look them in the eye when I do it; put people at ease; hug long and hard; greet every day with a positive expectation about what adventure I might find in it; keep writing; support the happiness of the people I love; look for hope and possibility everywhere; listen to my dreams; love the environment; support peace… inside myself and in the world; see mystery, magic and joy in the every day; respect nature; and really live… every moment, every day, fully.