Tag Archives: bookstores

So how are those new year’s resolutions working out for you?  How did you do with keeping them last year?

Statistics show that about 1/3 of all adults in the US make resolutions.  Statistics also show that 23% will give up their resolutions after the first week.  And only 8% will keep them all year.  I think I read that bit last year which may have influenced my list of resolutions that I made this year.

Actually, I prefer to call them goals.  That sounds like something to aim for, not just I resolve to do such and such this year. Maybe that’s splitting hairs but whatever works, I always say.

Unfortunately, as with most people, I tend to want to fix everything at the same time.  Lose weight, get more exercise, eat better, etc.  We all know how that goes. I find better results if I stick with fewer goals than to tackle too many at once. 

One of my goals last year was to not buy any books.  That doesn’t make the top ten in resolutions, but is certainly needs consideration in my case.  I have a wide range of interests and love books of all kinds.  But…they do take up a good amount of room.  And they’re heavy, very heavy if you have to move. Also, they’re visible proof of where I spend my money.  New clothes?  Nah.  New books?  Oh, yes, please! 

Most of the books that I buy are non-fiction.  I always justify my purchases in that they are actually reference materials, I can learn something from them, I might need to know this stuff later.  What if the internet goes down and I’m left with only my personal library?  You can recognize a true addict by the excuses they make.  I even buy a lot of used books, many times for such low prices that I can’t pass up the good deal.  (See what I mean?)

So, I’m mostly proud to say that I stuck with my goal to not buy any books last year.  At least until July when I had a little melt down when I took my granddaughter to the bookstore.  That doesn’t mean that I didn’t read; I just resisted buying the books.  I’m fortunate that I have a fairly good library system which supports my reading habit.  Also, I’ve made very good use of the two electronic systems that they belong to where I can borrow nearly anything from books to music, videos to movies.  Too much, actually.

But back to the no buying book resolution, er, umm, goal.  I got back on the wagon…mostly.  I did have a few slip-ups with buying some used books online.  Although I’m very proud to report that I went into the local bookstore to shop for Christmas presents for others and did NOT buy a single book for myself.  That wouldn’t have happened in the previous years.  Magazines don’t count, do they? 

So how did you do with your resolutions last year?  I did manage to add more fruits and veggies to my diet.  And walked more (with the help of the dog.)  Cleaned out a few attics but not all of them.  Some of the other goals are being recycled for 2024.  No sense in getting crazy about improvements, is there?  We’ll just see what I can stick with this year. I haven’t given up ice cream yet.