New Year’s Intentions are the New Resolutions

Do you shy away from making New Year’s Resolutions because you don’t want to set yourself up for failure? Are you afraid of commitment? Plate already too full of obligations?

Then you might want to consider the post-millennial kinder, gentler cousin of the New Year’s Resolution.

The New Year’s Intention.

Dictionary.com defines the word resolve as a verb that means “to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine.” Add a few extra letters on to the end of that word and you get resolution defined as “the act of determining upon an action or course of action.”

The just sounds so final doesn’t it?

Well, when you make New Year’s Intentions you don’t need to make a list of things you will do in 2010. Just a list of things you want to do.

Intend is defined as, “to have in mind as something to be done or brought about; plan.” And intention is defined as, “an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result.”

See, It’s those words have in mind and mentally that let you off the hook.

All you really need to do is think of some things you might-maybe-kinda-sorta-wanna do, but will probably never really act on.

Isn’t that what most of us have been doing all along anyway when it come to New Year’s resolutions?

I mean, honestly, how many of you keep your resolutions?

Oh, I know there’s a few of you over-achieving individuals out there who do. You probably did all the unnecessary extra credit assignments in high school too.

There are names for people like you.

Teacher’s Pet Valedictorian.

But for the rest of us slackers this New Year’s Intentions thing could really work. I can think of an endless list of intentions.

1. Lose weight. I already think about that all the time. Especially when I’m snacking on Oreos.

2. Exercise regularly. I think about that all the time too. Usually after I eat the Oreos.

3.  Become a millionaire. Who doesn’t intend to be rich? Granted things like buying diapers, paying taxes and putting your kids through college usually gets in the way.

4. Always drive the speed limit. “But officer I intended to slow down…”

5. Get up at 5 a.m. and cook my family a spectacular, healthy and well-balanced breakfast every morning. As long as I’m not tired, or cranky. Or I just don’t want to.

See, with New Year’s Intentions you have all of the benefits of setting goals, but none of the guilt when you don’t actually achieve them.

It’s enough that you simply meant to accomplish something.

And if you don’t get around to it?

Meh.

I spent all day thinking about organizing my closets.

Whew!

There’s one item checked off my list for the year.

What do you intend to do in 2010?