Hi neighbors. We have made it through our first week of 2006. How are we doing? Have you made your resolutions for the year yet?

Have you already started applying them or making plans to bring those goals to reality? Or, have you already messed up and broken one of your just-made resolutions? If you are like most of us, the one you have already broken is probably the one you most needed to keep.

Every year we go through this and I am beginning to think the problem lies not with our dedication to follow-through; but in our wording of our resolutions.

For instance, one of the most popular resolutions this year was the annual resolution to get in shape, right? See, we've doomed ourselves from the get-go. Everyone of us is already in some kind of shape. We need to specify our resolutions. Think them through and clarify them as though we were making a wish with a mean-tempered genie.

You have to word it in such a way that it can't come back to haunt you, or hang over your head like a little black rain cloud all year.

Resolutions aren't wishes of course, although we often think of them in the same manner. Just say the words and, voila! it's done.

Back to the correct wording of the resolution...

One thing I learned over the years is that progress can be made in gradual steps and still make a significant impact over time.

So instead of having a resolution to "get into shape" this year, I've come up with this resolution: "I will eat with moderation and exercise with dedication."

Now that says it all without getting too technical.

A person doesn't want to get tied down to something with the year just out of the chute you know.

To me this seems like a livable resolution. It sounds good and it should work. Most importantly, it can't be used against me if the weather is bad or I get a chance to eat one little slice of cheesecake.

Although the assumption is I will eat and exercise differently in 2006 than in 2005 (and every year from 1965 forward) the whole concept is flexible and open to personal interpretation every day.

I recommend not having a resolution like "I will eat no chocolate in 2006," or "I will eat no carbs in 2006."

It also doesn't seem fair to say "I will walk five miles a day, six days a week." No, those are too specific and you'll break those resolutions before Valentine's Day. The first chance you get to throw those tough resolutions out the window -- you will.

Some suggest setting definite goals with specific deadlines. "I will lose five pounds in January," for instance.

Although that does seem like the logical way to do it, I've never had much luck with logic.

Maybe one general resolution could be, "I will find a magic lamp and rub it."

Do you consider your New Year's resolutions to be more wishes than goals?

Is midnight, Dec. 31, more like seeing the first star at night or a shooting star to you? Remember, resolutions are things we are going to DO, not wishes for something to just drop into our lap.

Of course, we could make a resolution to buy one lottery ticket a week and see if that becomes a fulfilled wish along with being a resolution.

Just be certain to word your resolutions carefully, or they won't last long. Keep it simple and definite, but flexible.

We do want to have some fun in 2006 don't we? We can make more than just one resolution too! So let's not use our resolutions as threats to ourselves. Some people resolve to "do (whatever! ) or not go on vacation."

No, we don't want to set ourselves up like that, do we? I wonder if we should make our leaders come up with resolutions? Some kind of "best case scenario" for the coming year? Of course if they don't accomplish their resolutions, we would probably hold it against them in the next election.

The adage, "don't make promises you can't keep" comes to mind.

That is the way with our personal resolutions as well I suppose. We shouldn't set goals we cannot achieve or we'll just give up early and feel like failures before Easter.

So, if you've already stated, written or even just vaguely thought about your New Year's resolutions; you might want to rethink and revise.

Until the next time friends remember; although resolutions aren't simply wishes, they shouldn't be threats or acts of self-intimidation either.

Let's have a fun and healthy 2006!