Don't Be Vague

Bringing in the new year always make me think about what I'd like to do differently. You know, the whole "New Year's Resolutions" thing is very catchy. Doesn't it feel good sometimes to say everything you want to do differently and think you'll do it differently. Now having said that... I don't believe in setting resolutions. Not anymore. But I don't really have a problem with those who make them. I used to make them up every year. My best friend from 5th grade and I used to bury them every year in my front yard and then dig them up on New Year's Eve. Of course we hadn't made any of them come true.
So my question is... can we ever really change? Did you know that every year the top four new year's resolutions are the same? They have been for years. This information is coming from my pastor by the way. I can't remember exactly how many years but for at least three years the top goals have been to 1. Slim down 2. Stop smoking 3. Reduce debt. The order may vary from year to year but they are always up there. Why? You could take one route (called the Negative Route) and say it's because people simply cannot change without divine intervention or some sort of life-altering wake up call. Year after year after year these resolutions are set only to have them reappear each year!
But here's the thing. (This thing = positive route!) Even though I know that millions of resolutions will be broken this year I still believe that people CAN change! And I'm not even talking about exercising, eating healthier, stop smoking, etc. Yes those things matter because those things help you to live a longer, healthier life and BONUS you are taking care of your body (your temple) the way you should. People CAN change. The human mind is an amazing thing, and with encouragement from friends (and some of your own willpower and lots of sticky notes) you can do what you set your mind to do. Whatever it may be. Read your Bible more often (we can all do that one), walk the dog more (poor Rover is just begging for more time to sniff the world), or maybe to spend a couple minutes a day sitting in the sunshine (if there is any).
People's character... that may not be so easy. All of the duel bags in the world (see The Doghouse if you don't understand that, but only if you want to) will probably stay duel bags. But that's another question I guess.