MOULTRIE. Ga. — 

Man didn’t invent musical notes. He just named them. They were already here.  As well, man didn’t invent time. He only named it. And so here we are on New Year’s Day.

By now we have had champagne, blackeyed peas and likely some of us have joined in a chorus of “Auld Lang Syne.” It’s tradition.

And now come the predictions and resolutions for 2017.

I’ve had several promotions emailed to me relative to the new year. One said “50 New Year’s Resolution Ideas and How to Achieve Each of Them.”

Well I don’t think resolutions are about people giving you some ideas to fulfill. I would think resolutions would come from within one’s self. I don’t see them as a shopping list from someone else.

I’ve never heard of anyone being frustrated because he couldn’t come up with a resolution. I’ve seen some people frustrated because the one thing they did resolve… well they couldn’t keep more than a few days.  And I’ve seen people frustrated because they couldn’t find their car after the New Year’s eve party.

So my conclusion on this point is, if it’s not already weighing heavily on your  heart, then chances are it won’t happen. And with reference to “weighing on your heart,” I’ve read that losing weight is the most popular New Year’s resolution.

One promotion sent to me said that most resolutions fail because people “shoot for the moon.”

I don’t make resolutions as a rule, but if I did I would just shoot for the backporch. I might actually make it that far. Besides, that’s where the swing is located.

One promotion suggests there is a “science” behind making New Year’s resolutions. Well,  no there isn’t. There’s a science behind building a fire by rubbing sticks together. It’s called physics. Saying I’m going to do better is just a proclamation. And too often, they are just empty words. But out of curiosity, I opened the email about science. Guess what? It was just a blank page.  Not just empty words … no words.

Then there’s one that says: How to Make A Better Resolution.

Again this probably has to do with not “shooting for the moon.” In other words, instead of saying I’m going to lose 50 pounds, just say I want to be able to go from Point A to Point B without having to make two trips. 

There are numerous famous quotes about the New Year. 

From Oprah Winfrey: “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”

When I read that, I immediately thought about two things — our national government and those outside speakers at fast food restaurants. 

Cyril Cusack said: “If you asked me for my New Year’s resolution, it would be to find out who I am.” 

I think that’s mostly hippie talk.

When I was in college, my philosophy professor pointed to me and asked, “Mr. Walden, who are you and what are you doing here?”

I gave him my full name and added that I needed a decent paying job, and I was trying to stay out of Vietnam.

There were some chuckles. Then some silence.

He said, “That’s a valid response.” I guess I had resolved it somewhere along the way, but I’m pretty sure it had nothing to do with New Year’s.

All that said, “Happy New Year to you all.”

(Dwain Walden is editor/publisher of The Moultrie Observer. Email: dwain.walden@gaflnews.com)