The Richter Scale^®

Many people welcome the new year with so-called New Year's Resolutions. Many of the same people break those resolutions before the first day of the new year is over. That makes New Year's resolutions seem rather empty except for the most diligent and faithful resolution makers.

Knowing that I am one of the many who frequently (in the past) did not have the discipline to follow through on resolutions, I instead opt for a different approach wherein I attempt to do two things. First, I reflect on all that went well or went poorly in the year gone by, and second, I try to figure out what the year in advance might look like in a general sense and see what I might be able to do to nudge things in a positive direction.

The real painful part of this process is the reflection on the past year, as it frequently dredges up some real bonehead things I did or was involved in. In past years this has included things like scraping up my truck on a fence due to trying to stop in slippery mud, wearing shoes with no traction on freshly waxed floors, the occasional verbal faux pas in front of a friend or business associate, being inconsistent with my children, ruining the Hollandaise sauce I was making from scratch, and countless other things which may mostly seem minor to someone else, but are items that I have lost sleep over or agonized about.

I don’t know about you, but I have kept hoping that as I get older, I get wiser. And in some respects, that has held true with respect to certain stupid things I have done once, learned from, and not repeated. But man’s ability to do stupid things or things one regrets knows no bounds, regardless of age. And one can only hope one recognizes when one has done something stupid, and that the event of stupidity does not hurt anyone else.

Fortunately, the pain of stupidity is usually balanced or outweighed by the good things that have happened and that I have done (at least in my estimation). And I must say, although I would not call it a resolution, I strive to do more good things than stupid things each year.

So, to those whom I have inadvertently insulted, dismayed, or otherwise offended during 2005, my heartfelt apologies.

To those whom I have been able to help in one way or another, it was my pleasure. Truly.

So here’s to 2006 - may it be as good as, or better than 2005!