I haven’t made a New Year’s resolution in years. They never seem to work for me. Much like WIPs, I start out strong, and then set the resolution down “just for a little while”. Eventually, a little while turns into the rest of the year. I didn’t like that I beat myself up over not sticking with the resolution, because that pressure/guilt only made me feel bad, it didn’t help me to actually keep the resolution. Once I realized that, I stopped making resolutions for the new year.
This year, I decided I’d try the whole “resolution” thing again. I kicked around a few ideas: finishing all those WIPs I’ve got stacked up (there’s that afghan, though…), learning how to use the Serger that was given to me (I’ll get there), doing yoga every day (not likely, but I can get most days). None of those were things that I wanted to commit to doing for the year (or within the year). I wanted a resolution that I would actually finish.
One of my favorite things to do is read, and I read an “eclectic array” of genres, to quote my 11th grade English teacher. I also have shelves of books that I have not read. Most of these books are ones I picked up used before I moved to Arizona. I was stocking up, since I knew that the town I was moving to did not have a bookstore. Of course, the town does have a thrift store and a consignment store, both of which get a nice variety of books, and neither of which help me to read through the books I’ve already got. I also reread books, especially if it’s been a stressful week and I’m looking for something relaxing. So now I have 5 shelves of books that I’ve been meaning to read someday…
My resolution for this year is to read at least 52 books I haven’t read before. I won’t count a book if I do not finish it, or if I’ve read it before. I’m going to start with The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, a book that I actually bought new at a bookstore/outdoor store/coffee shop as a reward for a very difficult day back in September. I’ll let you know how it goes.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy 2013, and that, if you make resolutions, they are ones that you enjoy keeping.
Gnotting Gecko 
Good luck reading your 52 books, I’ll be interested to read how you’re getting along. How much would you say you read normally? I never set myself a numerical reading target because I always think it will make my reading less fun but it’s great if it works for you. I made a resolution to read at least one non-fiction book a month last year, and I got along fairly well. I have to read non-fiction manuscripts for work though so it was a bit like cheating!
Thanks! I’ve kept count before, but this is the first time I’ve actually set a goal. I usually read around 60 books a year, but many of them are rereads, so I go through them faster. With this goal, I don’t think it will put extra pressure on me or make it less fun, but it will get me to read some of the books that I’ve had waiting around for a while. What areas of nonfiction did you read?
I work on a series of academic primers for undergraduate students so it can be anything in the social sciences and humanities. Last year that meant a lot of Philosophy, Religion, Classics, Politics, Gender Studies and Body Studies. I can’t review those books though because I’m not exactly impartial! Off duty I read some memoirs, craft books, cook books, gardening books, biographies and what I guess would be termed a historical reconstruction… The Suspicions of Mr Whicher. It was an odd one! I’m not sure I’ll keep it up, except work (which I have to) and the gardening books.
That sounds like interesting work. Most of the nonfiction I have read has been animal or medical, but I’m starting to branch out. I’m always looking for book recommendations.
It is fascinating, I love being able to read interesting introductions to fields I know nothing about and meeting the people who wrote them. I think I might love it even more if I worked in trade and got to read fiction, but hey! It keeps me learning new stuff! Have you read any animal non-fiction you’d recommend?
That sounds like an awesome job; I’m a bit jealous! Most of the animal nonfiction I’ve read recently has been care books or identification guides, which are not necessarily exciting reads. ‘Don’t Shoot the Dog’ is a fun read, though. It’s an animal training book, but I’ve used the information from it in all kinds of areas. ‘A Plague of Rats and Rubbervines’, about invasive species, is another favorite. I keep hoping that they will release an updated version, but that hasn’t happened yet. As a side note, I picked up a copy of ‘The Suspicions of Mr Whicher’ in the thrift store here today.
A strong wilpowere is neededl to complete a resolution and that’s why I don’t really have the guts to make one…lol…All the best to you!! Cheers!! 😀
Thanks!
Hmm…I don’t know why the spelling turns out this way…lol…anyway, you’re welcome~
Have a nice day! Cheers~
I make 1 or 2 resolutions that are realistic. It’s an easy way to keep your promise to yourself.
I think making unrealistic resolutions has been my problem in the past. We’ll see how this one goes!