The Will and The Way

New Year’s Resolutions from the local crowd

Andy Bennett

Every year, I spend New Year’s Eve gorging myself on Christmas cookies, leftover ham and sweet potatoes, and an assortment of dips. Then, I watch the clock tick to midnight, give my wife a kiss and vow that next year I will work out more and eat less. I then spend New Year’s Day with a bellyache that can only be cured by antacid... and pizza. But, it just wouldn’t be a new year without empty promises that only lead to pressure and feelings of failure, would it?

I wondered if other Northlanders were like me, or if they had the willpower to stick to their guns and make improvements in the new year. So I asked a few. Here’s what they had to say.

Barrett Chase

Lifelong Duluthian, US Postal worker, and co-creator of the community website Perfect Duluth Day.

“There are a couple of monstrous novels that I’m resolving to read this year. Anna Karenina is one. I went through a Russian classics phase awhile back but never got around to that beast. A lot of critics call it the best novel ever written, so the least I can do is give it a try. The second novel is Infinite Jest. I’ve always been a fan of David Foster Wallace’s shorter works, but could never bring myself to take on his famous thousand-page book.”

Lucie Amundsen

A writer and MPR contributor new to Duluth~Superior.

“This year I’m resolving to stop avoiding things that make me uncomfortable like personal finance and following up on some health issues. Often it’s just easier to pull the ostrich in the sand move. I’ll add that I’m buoyed from my success last year. I resolved to get out of my career comfort zone and when the opportunity arose, I read my personal essays on the radio. When I wanted to chicken out, my resolution propelled me onward. That small step led to some radio stories and a whole new place to pitch my work.”

Scott Hebert

Student and member of sketch comedy team “Dink Tank.”

“I personally find it hard to make a lifestyle change based on something that is going to happen again in 365 days, and from the number of resolutions I hear about being broken, I’m not alone. The typical resolution seems to be something difficult to attain even with serious motivation, like: ‘I’m going to drop 40 pounds this year,’ ‘I’m going to quit smoking this year’ or ‘I’m not going to get more than two felonies this year.’ You need big motivation to make these things happen, so my advice is, if you feel the need to make a resolution, make it be something small that can be achieved.”

Thanks for the advice, Scott. Okay then, my New Year’s resolution is to stop drinking soda. That’s attainable, isn’t it? How hard can it be to give up soda? Let me ponder that while I sip this crisp, refreshing soda...

Wow, that lasted all of thirty seconds. Maybe I’m just too weak to follow through on a New Year’s resolution. But at least I’m not alone.

Anika Thompson

SMDC worker by day, theatre artist extraordinaire by night.

“I will not depress another year with failed resolutions, so I am starting an anti-resolution party, for those who lack self-control like myself. Want to join? Meetings are ... oh, never mind, we’ll never make it to them anyway.”