New Year's promises

Tonight millions of people will start out their resolutions. It’s the common belief that as the clock hits midnight tonight, a clean slate will be put forth in front of everyone. We believe it’s a chance to start over.

Well, that’s all bullshit.

Anything I do today doesn’t automatically get dismissed because we start using new calendars. Everything we do, whether positive or negative, is carried with us each day. There’s no clean slate. We got one at birth. That’s the only time we get one.

So, instead of pledging to quit smoking or drop 20 pounds, I pledge to anyone reading to CONTINUE to do things I’ve been striving for since my last New Year’s resolution two years ago: Be the best person I can.

I pledge to continue to make a life for myself that I choose. I pledge to not let any criticism, negativity or personal vendettas against me stand in my way.

I promise to strive to attempt to make my friends and family proud, the way they all do every day. As my friends and I age past out college years, we marry. Our children get older. Every single one of you make me so proud that I once was able to just sit around and slam beers when we could have been doing something more productive. No time was wasted doing it.

I promise to publish my first novel by my 26th birthday. I promise to start working on my second one immediately afterwards. I’m too young to just be sitting around anymore.

I promise to continue to give back to those who have invested time and energy to keeping me out of jail. I promise to come and visit more often. I promise to put you all before work.

Anyone who knows me knows that I never use the word promise unless I guarantee I can do it. Notice how many times I used the word in this entry.

To all my family, friends or anyone else reading this, these are not resolutions. These are promises.