A brand new year ... a brand new me.
Those are the words that are on the lips of many of us as one year comes to an end and another begins.
We've made it through all the holiday craziness, albeit with a little less room in the waist of our pants, and we've said goodbye to all the things that happened in 2010 and have begun our preparations for the year 2011.
We are still only a little more than two weeks into the new year, but that has me wondering how many of us have already failed to keep our resolutions and how many are still going strong after all these 16 days.
I didn't make it public to anyone, but I did make a few New Year's resolutions.
That is due, in part, to the fact that my entire family got the flu in the days leading up to New Year's Eve and we were all asleep by 11 p.m. that night. However, thanks to the fireworks display that was apparently being set off on my street, I did get to ring in the New Year with a big swig of blue Gatorade and a couple Advil.
However, I did make a couple resolutions that I want to see come to fruition in 2011.
First off, I would really like to get into better shape and start taking better care of myself. So far, I am not doing so well.
I would say that my diet these past couple weeks has been very poor, and the amount of physical activity I'm getting is even worse.
I think that my main motivation for this is not so that I can look good with my shirt off. I'm married with a son, and those days of trying to wow the ladies with my physique have passed me by.
I want to get into shape so that I can, first off, feel good about myself. Being healthy and in shape is something that we should all do for ourselves because living healthy long lives is worth striving for.
My young son also is a good reason to do this. I would really like to see him grow up. There is no way of telling what could happen each day, but there is no reason not to live a healthier lifestyle so that at least I am doing my part.
The second resolution I made was to move forward with my work. That is not to say that I am going to move on to another job.
No, what I want to do is start working harder than I do. It is apparent to me, from time to time, that I am capable of doing better work, and that is why I need to work harder at learning and continuing to perfect the craft that I have chosen to pursue.
I also believe that is something that you, the reader, deserves. You pay for the paper each day, and you deserve to read the best possible articles, columns and so on that I can deliver.
My third resolution is one that I feel I should be working on every single day, striving to be a better father, husband and man.
I'm a decent person and pretty good at those three jobs, but there is always room for improvement. I have to be more attentive to my wife's needs and I have to always put forward my best effort to raise my son to be the best man he can be.
I believe all three of these are attainable as long as I stay committed to making them happen. I need to start eating more fruits and vegetables and fewer deep fried cheeses. I need to watch less football and baseball and spend that time sitting on the floor teaching my son - and wife - the proper way to make a car noise.
And I need to focus my attention on learning how to perfect the work that I do. I have heard that reaching perfection is impossible, but that success comes to those who won't stop trying to obtain it.
This needs to be my mantra from here on out.
2011 will be as good a year as I make it, and I will work as hard as I know how to achieve my goals.
I may still eat deep fried cheese from time to time, though.
Joshua can be reached via e-mail at jflesher
@tribtoday.com, snail mail or the carrier pigeon.