The Secret Of My Success.

I generally use New Year’s Eve as an excuse to wear heels too high, drink whiskey in too much abundance, dance until my ankles bleed, and hit the pillow at three a.m. without wiping off my mascara. And at some point amidst all of this merriment and general having of good times, I run my mouth off too.

“This year I’m going to read one book every month!” Or, “This year I’m going to learn how to cook!” Or, “This year I’m going to keep up with my correspondence!” With that, I hit the ground running! I clean my whole house (once)! I write to my grandmother (once)! I dig out my mom’s old “Bun’s of Steel” VHS and give it a go (one or two times)! But come February, I realize that this is all just way too hard, and I fold. I no longer beat myself up about it though, because I’ve come to expect it. It happens every year.

And it ain’t just at New Year’s folks! It’s every time I get an idea about how I’d like to change or improve myself, a goal I’d like to accomplish. I tell all of my friends that I’m finally going to write that novel, two months later I’ve got one measly chapter. I tell the girls at work that I’m finally going to squeeze my way back into my leopard print tube dress in time for the New Year, and it’s almost upon us. I’ll be wearing leggings and an over-sized holiday sweater to cover my Christmas fudge pudge, I’m sure. If this sounds at all familiar, I’m sure you’re wondering, “What do I have to do to kick my own rump into gear?”

Well, the first rule of successfully sticking to a New Year’s resolution: do not talk about your New Year’s resolution.

The second rule of successfully sticking to a New Year’s resolution: do not talk about your New Year’s resolution.

A friend of mine recently watched an episode of Ted Talks that investigated this phenomenon. It turns out that keeping your future plans a secret may give you more motivation to follow through.

The idea of it all seems quite plausible. Don’t you tend to swell up a little when you announce that you’re going back to school to become a massage therapist and everyone gives you a pat on the back and says, “Way to go” “Congratulations” “We’re so proud”? I know I do. So this year, let’s bypass that part, however fun it is, and just keep a journal or one good friend to confide in. Who knows, maybe next New Year’s Eve I’ll be dancing ’til my ankles bleed in a leopard print tube dress.

René Cousineau was born and raised in Glenwood Springs, CO. She currently lives in Boulder and is a student of fiction writing and Russian literature. She spends her time reading, cleaning, hiking, dancing, and slinging cupcakes at a local bakery/coffee shop.