"According to a random study, 8 percent of people who make New Year’s resolutions accomplish them.
"That sounds about right.
"Put another way, if you make twenty-five resolutions on New Year’s Eve, you’re likely to achieve two of them by the same time next year. Two outta twenty-five, gang. And the two would be probably the simplest and/or least important ones, too. (No study makes that claim — it’s just me being a cynic. Twelve days ago I resolved to be less of a cynic in 2016. Oh-for-one.)
"There’s a formality in the word 'resolve,' a certain firmness. (A comic, maybe Carlin, once lobbied to have 'firmth' become a word. I support that.) If you resolve to do something, it’s not just a passing thought; it’s a
declaration. 'I don’t just want to do this thing — I declare that I will do this thing!' It’s a strong statement.
"Well, folks, we humans struggle with strong statements. And most other things.
And so another year passes and another set of resolutions goes unachieved, and we feel a little bit more like pieces of shit each and every December 31.
On December 31, 2014, I resolved to write a novel.
On December 31, 2013, I resolved to write a novel.
On December 31, 2012, I resolved to write a novel.
On December 31, 2011, I resolved to write a novel.
Etc.
Number of novels written = zero.
Number of chapters written = like three.
My New Year’s Eve writing
resolution success rate = 0 percent.
"I never really put pressure on myself to achieve a writing resolution, or other kinds, really. What I need? Is a bit of outside pressure."
