Diana MacCarthy leaned into the window of Stein-er’s Tavern as she worked elbow grease and solvent into the holiday-themed imagery she had painted but weeks before. A Christmas tree smeared into a verdant blur until nothing was left but MacCarthy’s own refl ection – as apt a metaphor as any for this time of year, while we refl ect on the past 365 days and look forward to the next. In Roman mythology, the dual-faced god Janus simultaneously peered forward and back, and be-came associated with notions of “beginning” and “ending,” of pas-sages both symbolic and mundane. To wit, his name is the root of Janu-ary, a month that sees the death of the old year and the birth of the new. Janus is also the root of “jani-tor,” literally a caretaker of pas-sageways. Given MacCarthy’s reso-lution, this is somehow apropos.“I think my New Year’s resolution is going to be ‘to clean the house,’” she laughed, as another yuletide image became a tornado of pigment. “It’s in a state – I think that every-body can say that after Christmas. I have three children and a basset hound – a clean year is defi nitely a challenge, but it’s something I might live up to this year.”A clean year indeed. 2008 has proven messy beyond any measure, a sad truth explored by “Ginger” on GovGab, the offi cial blog of the U.S. government (seriously – blog.usa.gov). Your tax-paid blogger observes that “If 2008 has taught us anything, we learned that for-tunes or circumstances can turn on a dime.” This is assuming that one still has a dime. Ginger adds, “The only way we will get through bad times is to stay united and help each other.” Thanks, Ginger. Elsewhere on the government site is a list of the most common resolu-tions, which includes such perenni-als as losing weight, quitting smok-ing and drinking less, but tellingly, not quitting drinking altogether. Other resolutions are “reducing stress overall” and “reducing stress at work.” Of course, the recent lay-offs many have experienced have contributed to a reduction in their work-related stress, though their overall stress has mysteriously spiked. Hence the resolution from native Sonoman-turned-Seattle-based media professional Kristi Barnes: “I resolve to, although it’s not under my control, keep my job and house this year.” Notions of personal safety came courtesy of Barnes’ husband, jour-nalist Ken Barnes, who was initial-ly reticent to share his resolution claiming to neither be “resolute” or “resolved.” With prodding, how-ever, he resolved “to get home suc-cessfully to the snow-bound climes of Seattle.”“Coyote Road” radio host George Thompson (on-air 7 p.m., Tues-days on KSVY 91.3 Sonoma), fi rst echoed traditional resolutions of self-improvement. “I am going to exercise more. Yeah, I’m going to eat better – I’m on the right path here,” he said, then added, “And I’m not going to wreck my car on my way to Montana.”According to psychologists, by specifying “Montana,” Thompson is helping himself fulfi ll his reso-lution. Specifi city helps clarify a goal and designate a distinct tar-get while managing one’s expec-tations. Abstractions tend toward failure – instead of resolving to “lose weight,” resolve to “lose 15 pounds.” To wit, resolving not to wreck one’s car whilst en route to Montana is a stronger proposition than merely resolving not to wreck one’s car. Especially, if like Thomp-son, you’re on your way to Montana (safe travels, sir!).El Dorado Kitchen’s star mixolo-gist John Schantz (who will likely balk at such a fl orid description) has witnessed many a pronouncement and prognostication from his van-tage behind the bar. His resolution, however, reads like an alternate lyric to that New Year’s Eve chest-nut “Auld Lang Syne.” As Schantz suggests, “Make a conscious effort everyday to love the ones you know you love.”Of course, you can always revise your resolution and re-resolve in time for Chinese New Year on Jan. 26. And for those who think that resolutions are full of bull – you’re right – it’s the year of the ox.
The Sun Asked: What is your New Year’s Resolution?
