Ah yes, the new year resolutions. A tradition as old as time itself.1 They are promises we make to ourselves to be a better person in one way or another. Some people resolve to quit smoking, to lose weight, or to read more. And from January 1 through the end of the month many people stick to these resolutions. But by February all bets are off2. When I lived in NYC and still belonged to a gym I would refer to the influx of new gym patrons at the beginning of the year as the resolutionaries. Some would stay on to become gym regulars, though many would not.
I prefer to list goals for a new year rather than resolutions. Like most people, I can never stick to a resolution. So to declare I will do this or do that is meaningless in my mind, and will likely fail. Reasonable and achievable goals are better. They are also best when they have a timeline attached.
Keeping these things in mind, I’ve come up with a list of items I wish to accomplish within the next year. These things are in no particular order:
Slim down just enough to run more comfortably in the Pittsburgh (and maybe Brooklyn) Half Marathon(s), and to fit into my new seersucker suit.
I used to resolve to lose 20 pound or whatever number I needed to lose that year. One year (pre-child) I actually did it. That was also the year I resolved to become a regular runner and to run my first half marathon. Somehow I achieved both of those goals prior to the birth of my daughter that July. The year prior I was at my heaviest and vowed to drop 25 pounds, and it happened. I’ve been chasing that same resolution every year since. This year I think I can drop anywhere from 10 pounds or more and achieve both goals.Cut back on the booze. After a season of parties and family gatherings drenched in alcohol, this one is not only smart but necessary. I’ve never participated in Dry January. It’s never appealed to me. However, I’ve seen buzz about dryish January. The idea of cutting back and saving my drinks for certain events or days of the week will help me focus while still not completely depriving myself. Less booze will help me sleep better and train better, and will also ultimately help with my first goal of slimming down.
Get the car I really want. I’ve been leasing cars since I sold my 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse. We’ve had a Nissan Altima, a Nissan Rogue, and we’re on our third Subaru Forester. Having one car in Brooklyn was fine. When we moved to Pittsburgh we needed a second car. So I took my parents’ 2001 Infiniti I30. It lasted me about two years. The car I got to replace it is a Honda Civic. It’s not a bad car. It gets great gas mileage and has good power, but I feel like a teenager driving it. My lease is up in July, and I want something more sophisticated. I’ve been coveting the Volvo S60 or maybe an Audi A4. Needless to say I’ll be doing some test driving and will ultimately get the best I can afford.
Buy a tuxedo. Does every man need to own a tuxedo? Yes. Do I think I will wear mine more than once or twice a year? No. Do I still think I should own one? Absolutely! There aren’t a lot of places where a tuxedo is necessary these days; especially in my neck of the woods or in my line of work. But I did go to a gala this past month, and I certainly could have worn one. But I wasn’t going to rent one. When I’ve achieved goal number 1, I plan to make an appointment at Proper Cloth in New York and get one made to measure. Or perhaps I’ll do it at Spier & Mackay the next time I’m in Mississauga. Point is I intend to do it and I intend to do it right.
Keep writing. What I do here is not my job. You’re all reading this for free. And I intend to keep it free. But I have loved writing for a long time. For a while there I wanted to write novels. I even started one. Didn’t get very far into it. I’ve written restaurant reviews and about clothes and about my disdain for hipsters, (who remembers Crabapple)? For me this is an outlet to share a little piece of myself with whoever wishes to read about it. In the six months since I started this newsletter I’ve seen my subscriber list grow from one (Nick, mom you were my first two subscribers) to over twenty without ever having any real name recognition behind me. It feels good, and I’ve loved doing it.
So I guess this is my way of thanking everyone who has supported Jack of Clubs over the last few months. I look forward to continuing this journey into 2023. And with that I wish you all a happy and healthy new year! Thank you.
Not verified.
Does not apply to everyone. Some people make and keep resolutions. They are way better disciplined than many.