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MUSINGS New Year
Resolutions
Just for a change, in the new millennium I thought I should begin the year on a different note and live by the resolutions I make. But, somewhere deep inside me I knew that the trouble I take in making the resolutions may not be worthwhile if I am not able to keep up the resolutions. But then again, taking shelter under the age-old maxim "A job well begun is half done" I decided to give it a serious try. And just to keep a record, I took a blank paper and a pen and sat down to note down my intended resolutions and I began scrawling them serially. Top on the list of my resolutions was 1) Never leave a job incomplete or undone for tomorrow. (For tomorrow never comes) 2) Call it a day at least by 11.00 p.m. in the night and begin the day early, at least by 5.00 a.m. in the morning. ("Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise" and believe me I need all the three assets very badly in the new millennium). 3) Make sufficient time for recreation and games, and for exercise too ("All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"). I was about to jot down the next resolution when my better half appeared in front of me and asked, "So, what is it that keeps you so very busy today? I wish you could lend me a helping hand…" But I cut her short by answering, "I am engrossed in making my resolutions for the new year and this time I am putting them down in black and white." "Oh no, not again! I have had enough of your new year resolutions for the last seven years, or is it eight years? For heavens sake, please don't waste your precious time making those meaningless resolutions, which you very well know you will not keep. Have you anytime in the past been serious about your new year resolutions? Believe me, they are not meant for people like you," my wife blurted, throwing in a mocking look for effect. "Come on, honey, you don't have to sound so sarcastic. Instead you could help me frame a couple of worthy new year resolutions and thereafter also ensure that I keep them in letter and spirit. Perhaps, you could even act as a proper watchdog to prevent me from straying away from my resolutions." "Watchdog, my foot! Do you remember the resolutions you had made to yourself last year?" "Oh, yes, honey. I do remember them. I had resolved to give you much more time than I presently do and curtail my time on the internet, so on and so forth..." I replied meekly. "But what is the point, even before the sun could set on the new year's day you fcomot all about your resolutions. So, why make resolutions which can't be kept in letter and spirit?" "That's alright, my love. You don't have to blow hot and cold over such a trivial matter. Neither do you have to be so serious about it. After all resolutions are meant to be broken and it's no known offence under the prevailing law." The phone rang to punctuate our little debate. I reached for the receiver, leaving the paper, containing my precious resolutions, on the table. Having attended the phone, after ten minutes, I returned to my table, only to find my little daughter Bernice deeply occupied in some activity with her wax crayons. "What are you doing my sweety pie?" I asked her, bending down to see what she was up to. She flashed a naughty little grin at me and said, "It's Christmas time and I am drawing a picture of Santa Claus. Do you want to see it, Dada?" When I peeped to see what Bernice was up to, I was stunned to see that the thick crayon lines had messed up the resolutions I had put down in black and white. The crazy, coloured lines crossed each other like the ones drawn to keep the cockroaches at bay in the kitchen. There was neither any trace nor resemblance to Santa Claus in Bernice's work of art. "Where did you get this paper from?" I asked her rather sternly, putting in a great effort to sound serious. She giggled and pointed her finger towards her Mama. And her Mama in turn pretended to be engrossed in her work as though nothing had happened. Little did my innocent darling know the extent of damage she had inflicted on my intentions. And so there I
was back to square one, the only difference was, my resolutions for
the new year and the new millennium were not broken but they were
painted in all shades of red and pink. I turned to my little naughty
girl with desperation and released a sigh... If only you had known
the damage you have done! From the corner of my eye I could see my
better half smiling to herself for engineering this great mischief.
Her charming smile melted my anger together with my new year
resolutions, just the way the sun's rays melt a piece of ice.
Looking out of the window I firmly resolved never to make any more
new year resolutions nor any resolutions for the new millennium, at
least not in black and white! Sincerely yours, Daniel F de
Souza |
MAKING new year resolutions ain't my forte, and if by
chance I make a resolution or two, I hardly succeed in honouring
them. But I would rather make a few commitments to myself on a
day-to-day basis and see that I fulfill them in totality, no matter
how I go about it. But then, making new year resolutions is the in
thing today. And making new year resolutions for the new millennium
is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I just didn't wish this
opportunity to slip away. And perhaps, this could be the sole reason
that I gave a serious thought for making a few new year resolutions
for myself.