I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. Honestly, I can’t remember ever making one.
This isn’t because I’m some sort of mythical creature completely satisfied with my life, everything in it and myself. I don’t know people like that, but if you do, introduce me.
I don’t even have a good reason for not making New Year’s resolutions. It’s not as though I’m opposed to the idea of them. In fact I think it’s probably good to spend a few moments and take stock of your life and your goals and dreams at least once a year, and the lead up to New Year’s is as good as time as any. Of course, I don’t normally do that either.
For some reason, still presently unknown to me, I decided the end of 2011 beginning of 2012 was a good time to at least think about making a new year’s resolution. After all we’ve been asking people about new year’s resolution’s in all week, and I’ve asked a couple of people I interviewed this week what theirs were.
Still I couldn’t think of a good New Year’s resolution and it didn’t seem right or doable to steal any of the ones people told me about. For example, there is no way I’m giving up coffee, which is what the Stonington Connecticut FB Page said they were doing. So, instead of a New Year’s resolution I have a New Year’s pledge. Three actually. And all three have less to do with me, and more to do with two of the issues that are most important to me—the environment and the local economy.
I pledge to shop with re-usable bags: I’m already fairly fanatical about this when it comes to grocery shopping. There are a gazillion reusable bags in the trunk of my car. In fact if you ever see me walk into and then back out without anything, it’s probably because I forgot to take the bags out of the car. It occurred to me when I was Christmas shopping though that I should include the re-usable bags for other types of shopping as well.
I pledge to shop locally whenever possible: O.K. this one I sort of stole after reading ’s column on and speaking with Wendy Fox van Breems, who managed to buy all her holiday presents locally. Instead of just holiday shopping, I’m going to try to do the majority of my shopping throughout the year at local stores. We’re lucky to have such a great selection of shops in Stonington, Mystic and Pawcatuck and I need to take more advantage of that. While I always go to the and the local jewelry stores I do often succumb to the easiness of buying things online.
I pledge to remember my re-usable water bottles and travel coffee mugs: This year I’m done with plastic water bottles and paper coffee cups. I have several nice Patch reusable water bottles and at least one starbucks travel mug, plus I’ve been eyeing the travel mugs at the Yellow House. Now, all I need to do is remember to take them out of the house with me.
Do you have a new year’s resolution or pledge?
