It will stay on one of my wrists or the other, for as long as it takes to get results. I have made a resolution to alter my behaviour. An idea I picked up from CBC Radio, not known too have that many good ideas, but this one caught my interest. It had no cost attached and minimal involvement, just what I most appreciated in life. In fact, it was mind over matter in a sense.
I began the experiment in the afternoon of New Year’s Eve just prior to the Dinner and Dance at the Westmeath Hall. It wasn’t until the news of the band not coming to play music for us that evening that I had to change from my left wrist to my right because I cursed those musicians with a passion. After everything settled down, I was surprized that I had made only one slip the entire evening.
A little early yet but I may be recommending this technique to all my friends and acquaintances if they too have a problem with being negative like I am prone to be. Funny, when being so forgetful, people would say, “Put an elastic around your wrist.” I never saw the sense in it but the elastic band idea for a manageable cause is cool. It’s not too tight, it’s not to thick and it can be removed and transferred to the other wrist easily. In only a bit more than a week I have become quite attached to it like an occasional gift you could appreciate. I check to make sure this significant other is with me before I go to bed. We even shower together.
A New Year’s resolution is a tradition in which a person resolves to change an undesired behaviour, to accomplish a personal goal or otherwise improve their life.
Nearly 50 percent of people make New Year’s resolutions and about a quarter of those actually keep them. I was encouraged by these stats. Mine never crystallized before when being too lofty, like winning the lottery or tickets to the Super Bowl. I have a real chance now!
Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts, while in the Medieval era the knights took a vow each year to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry. If everyone I knew squared things up right away and acted a little more civilized, I would feel more comfortable about being around them.
I admit, I haven’t had much luck with resolutions in the past. Such things as getting to work on time, being nice to the neighbours, giving up sex, etc., didn’t last too long! This year in place of the usual, I will apply a simple mantra, “I am ready for change – the rubber band will work.” Psychology tells us that to build a life you must grab each day with both hands. In my circumstance, it is with both wrists. It also helps to surround yourself with like-minded people. That is why I will be promoting the “rubber band theory” to everyone I meet.
CBC did have another tip I decided to try as a backup. It was to choose someone you know or was nearby and to transfer your energy of joy to that person. In the ‘returns’ lineup at Walmart, a young lady in front of me had a real scowl on. I concentrated and imagined her smiling either to herself or at me. No such luck. I double-downed later while at the dance with Sheila. She just stared at me and said, “What’s your problem.” I gave up on the joy idea really quick.
Three years ago, Rabbi Bregman made a New Year’s resolution to share valuable information with his social media and website visitors in order to double his following. He believed he was successful because he wrote his goal down every morning. “I don’t believe that simply making a statement at the beginning of the year is enough to keep your goals fresh,” he said, adding that transforming a resolution into reality takes much more action than that.
Writing goals is great but my rubber band will always be with me. That’s all I need to keep my New Year’s resolution and I’ve got the rubber to prove it.
