Resolutions

In my first blog post, I mentioned that I was starting this blog for the purpose of a New Year's resolution designed to improve my writing habits. The plan is to post something new every day, which ought to be quite a challenge for me, as someone who generally doesn't have much to say.

Well, that is just one of three resolutions I'm setting for myself. The other two will require less constant attention, I think. They're also designed to improve my life in some way, however:

First, I want to watch one movie I've never watched before every week.

It's kind of a given that, no matter how into movies you think you are, there is always a long list of movies that people are surprised you haven't seen yet. Well, now I've got to come up with 52 of them. I've started a list:

• Dirty Pretty Things (which I received as a gift from Miss Stephanie for Christmas)
• Brazil
• 12 Monkeys
• Ice Storm
• Dazed and Confused
• Fistful of Dollars
• The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
• There Will Be Blood
• Labyrinth
• Young Frankenstein
• Raising Arizona
• No Country for Old Men
• Hamlet 2

Obviously, I have a lot more to go. If you have any recommendations, feel free to post them in the comments!

Anyway, my last resolution is to go on a hike every month. Tucson is surrounded by excellent hiking trails, and I've only been to a few of them. I don't mind revisiting some that I've been to before, though. The important thing is that I'm out there getting exercise.

I've never really been one for resolutions before last year, partially because they've always seemed like vague, optimistic promises to yourself rather than clear, actionable goals. I believe it was a Cracked article that introduced me to the alternative, and suddenly I was on board with the idea.

Not that there's anything specifically wrong with resolutions like "I'm going to lose weight this year" or "this year I'm going to save money." However, such resolutions need to be accompanied by a clear plan of action, or else you'll lose track and forget about it. "I'm going to lose weight this year" should be accompanied by a calorie counting plan and exercise regiment. "This year I'm going to save money" should be accompanied by a budget. Just be sure to make your resolutions reasonable and positive.