NOTE: I asked the AI bot to create a picture. Damn, I look old! 😳😱😭

Last year, I made the choice not to do resolutions, but instead, a “25 Things of 2025”.

#cool

Yeah, but it was a bit much. We had so many things on the list that it was difficult to get to all of them. That being said, we’ll do a 26 Things in 2026, just because my wife is OCD and she’ll work for project completion (sorry, honey 😀).

#shhhhnoonewillknow

However, I’m making some resolutions as well.

#excellent

So, my resolutions:

  1. Run a half-marathon: This one stems from a promise I made to myself 17 years ago. A group of us were taking classes towards our master’s, and one of those classes focused on personal growth. We had to do a presentation about ourselves and places where we wanted to grow. Back then, I was very active, running 4 – 5 miles a day and probably in the best shape of my life, so on that presentation, I outlined my ideas for running a half-marathon. About that time, my wife’s mom died, we purchased the acreage where we currently live, and life washed that away. Fast forward, I’ve printed the “couch to half-marathon” training guide and am on Day 2! I hope to be ready to run sometime in late May or early June. The plan is a very beginner plan, so I’m not “doing” too much running; however, it builds towards 10 mile runs, the farthest I’ve ever made, period.
  2. 199: That’s my target weight. Currently, I’m a fat, balding, way out of shape old man, and in my own head, this is my last chance to reset before my age and weight start extracting a personal toll on my body and life (if it hasn’t already begun). We are doing some tracking of calories and macros (protein, it’s your friend), but I have a way of eating my feelings with the absolute worst food possible (jelly beans and Velveeta cheese, anyone). But (and that’s a big one), I’ve been able to keep myself under calories and about at my protein goal for a few days now, even though I’m stressed about school and the world. I cannot complain right now, but I’ve been down this road before. My fear, keeping the weight off. Old men, their ability to keep that weight becomes more and more difficult. I don’t want to end up a statistic (my father had a triple bypass, my grandpa died of a stroke), so it’s a concern.
  3. Travel: If we are keeping the camper, we need to work more on getting that thing out and moving. Last year, we had it out four times for three weekends (local campground, campground by my parents’ house, local campground, and a week trip to the Apostle Islands in northern Wisconsin). We also decided, for the first time, to take our cats along for the ride. Our trips were awesome. The cats, mixed results. They don’t like the truck ride, but love the camper. My wife wants a camper van, but I’m not entirely sold yet on the idea. I like being able to pull in, unhook, and not carry my house with me if we want to go eat or explore. More to come on that idea. However, on my “25 in 25” list, I made the goal of 5 time,s and we made four. I’m thinking bumping that up to six is not hard to imagine! This year, I’d love to explore Minnesota, South Dakota, and maybe, just maybe, try to get to Colorado. We’ll see on that last one! 🙂
  4. Be more involved: We are scared for our country. We are scared for our state. We see the similarities between the US and Germany, and we don’t want that to happen. Being more involved, whether it’s with the food pantry, both here where we work and closer to home. Being more involved, finding local groups that are working to get people the help they need because of jobs, family, or just a crappy draw in the game of life. Being more involved, working to bring local candidates into the frey, helping them to gain traction, and getting out the vote. I’m not sure how to qualify “being more involved”, but I’ll know it when I see it.

So there you have it. My resolutions are to run a half-marathon, to be at 199 on December 31st, to get our camper out at least six times, and to be more involved with local community affairs.

#thesearenotbadatall

Well, that coming from my alter ego isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement, but it’s a start!

Did you make any resolutions? Would you be willing to share at least one? Please do so in the comments!

As always, I’m grateful to each of you who takes the time to read this nonsense. While I’ve not written in a while, the words don’t feel forced, which makes my heart happy.

#metoomanmetoo