2014 – a New Year Resolved

Okay, I know. Been a while. Actually, I didn’t realize just how long until I asked for “ideas” and got asked what had happened to my blog. Anyway – the title peaked your curiosity yet? No, I’m not drinking, nor am I having a senior moment (I’m only 50). I mean “Resolved” – not “Resolution”.

Lets look at the word “Resolution”. From the Free Online Dictionary:

res·o·lu·tion (rz-lshn)
n.
1. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination.
2. A resolving to do something.
3. A course of action determined or decided on.
4. A formal statement of a decision or expression of opinion put before or adopted by an assembly such as the U.S. Congress.
5. Physics & Chemistry The act or process of separating or reducing something into its constituent parts: the prismatic resolution of sunlight into its spectral colors.
6. The fineness of detail that can be distinguished in an image, as on a video display terminal.
7. Medicine The subsiding or termination of an abnormal condition, such as a fever or an inflammation.
8. Law A court decision.
9.
a. An explanation, as of a problem or puzzle; a solution.
b. The part of a literary work in which the complications of the plot are resolved or simplified.
10. Music
a. The progression of a dissonant tone or chord to a consonant tone or chord.
b. The tone or chord to which such a progression is made.
11. The substitution of one metrical unit for another, especially the substitution of two short syllables for one long syllable in quantitative verse.

Wow. That’s a lot of different jobs for one word. I think I like 3 the best – “A course of action determined or decided on”. That pretty much describes the normal, standard use of the word anyway.

So now, let’s go back to the Free Online Dictionary and find “resolved”:

re·solve (r-zlv)
v. re·solved, re·solv·ing, re·solves
v.tr.
1. To make a firm decision about.
2. To cause (a person) to reach a decision. See Synonyms at decide.
3. To decide or express by formal vote.
4. To change or convert: My resentment resolved itself into resignation.
5. To find a solution to; solve. See Synonyms at solve.
6. To remove or dispel (doubts).
7. To bring to a usually successful conclusion: resolve a conflict.
8. Medicine To cause reduction of (an inflammation, for example).
9. Music To cause (a tone or chord) to progress from dissonance to consonance.
10. Chemistry To separate (an optically inactive compound or mixture) into its optically active constituents.
11. To render parts of (an image) visible and distinct.
12. Mathematics To separate (a vector, for example) into coordinate components.
13. To melt or dissolve (something).
14. Archaic To separate (something) into constituent parts.
v.intr.
1. To reach a decision or make a determination: resolve on a course of action.
2. To become separated or reduced to constituents.
3. Music To undergo resolution.
n.
1. Firmness of purpose; resolution.
2. A determination or decision; a fixed purpose.
3. A formal resolution made by a deliberative body.
[Middle English resolven, to dissolve, from Old French resolver, from Latin resolvere, to untie : re-, re- + solvere, to untie; see leu- in Indo-European roots.]

Yep, I like Resolved better. Shoot, “resolution” is in the definition of “resolved”. So my question is this – are you resolved? Or are you waffling with resolution? In about 7 months, I will embark on the journey of my lifetime – I’m going to college. I am going to take my decades of being a parent of a special needs child/adult, my years of caring for a disabled spouse, my desire to make a difference in the lives of those touched by major illness like cancer, diabetes, lupus, arthritis, or any of the myriad of others that literally change lives – and I am going to use all that in conjunction with a degree in social work to be a patient advocate. To be the help that simply was not available 30 years ago to a scared young mother on her own. To be the shoulder, the ear, the friend. To find the assistance that hides in plain sight. I am resolved. I am doing this. Yeppers – college at age 50.

I am also resolved to be in charge of me. Yes, I have health issues of my own. So what. They will just have to come along for the ride, because they are no longer in the driver’s seat. I am. Just hope the seatbelts fit them – because if not I don’t rightly care. I will still be wife, mother, grandmother and caregiver. Just now, I’ll be wife, mother, grandmother, caregiver AND college freshman. Am I scared? You betcha – especially of college algebra. But I am RESOLVED.

So now the million dollar question – what’s the point of this blog? Well, you see, it’s really simple. It’s a challenge of sorts. I challenge YOU to be resolved. Skip resolution. Don’t plan on doing it – DO IT. Don’t just be alive – LIVE. Adjust as necessary – but LIVE. You don’t have to run a marathon – if all you can do is wiggle your toes 10 times – do it! There are people right in your own neighborhood who would do anything for a kind word, a cute card in the mail, a quick phone call. If you have a terminal diagnosis, and know your time is limited – do what you can. Quit worrying about what you can’t do – you are wasting precious time and energy. You have physical limits – who doesn’t? Do what you can. Be resolved.

I have heard about New Years Resolutions all my life. I say this is the year to throw them out. They are a lot like expecting a 6 month old to run the Boston Marathon, because we make them so huge. This year – be resolved. To quote a famous ad campaign, Just do it!

So what are you waiting for? Let’s get this party started! A smile a day – just give it away! Lets put LIVING back in the spotlight – because no matter what you are living with, be it cancer, diabetes, arthritis, depression, lupus, MS, or any other illness or injury – make sure you are not just sitting back and letting it take control. You are in your own drivers seat. No matter what.

As always, thanks for your time in reading this. Feel free to share if you wish.