Resolving, Revolving, Dissolving...Bowling!

       In writing this, I'm already breaking a resolution (how many of you can say you've already broken one just a few days in?), one that is not so much a 'perennial' that comes out only on December 31st, but more constant throughout each year. Namely, to refrain from indulging through discussion or digestion in literary form, that which is trending, or faddish: "It's what's trending, you know...it's what everyone's reading...you mean you didn't see that movie or Netflix series yet?!" And, of course, at this time of year (I'm actually behind the trend by about a week already!) there are those omnipresent advice columns regarding New Years resolutions, that are about as great in number as the lists of what's out from 2020 (we all know what we wish for here) and what's going to be trending in for '21. A few columns that showed up on my computer thanks to 'cookies' (something I resolve to never give up) I found especially annoying, leaving me with the kind of negative resonance some of you get hearing "Let It Go" or "Call Me Maybe" (Uh oh, just when you cleared your head, my bad!), they prompted me to make an exception. Actually, upon further reflection, I realize I've been writing to you throughout the past pandemic year with ideas and strategies for enhancing your well-being even in the presence of such turbulent times. Thus, Ill not consider this as much a departure from my resolve but an attempt to add value to what I've previously offered here. 

       In addition to the occasional alliteration to which you have become accustomed to here, I titillate you at times with 'mini-musical mashups' -- why should this year start any differently? Let's start 2021 with some lyrics that fit the theme of the day, words that were as timely over half a century ago (doesn't that sound more impressive that merely saying 53 years ago?): 

                                      "You say you want a resolution 

                                        Well, you know

                                        We all want to change the world..."

While taking considerable literary license here with Mr. Lennon's and Mr. McCartney's original words from "Revolution", my obvious substitution of just one word allows a perspective on the matter at hand which can be instrumental in both making and keeping your New Years resolutions (or any others throughout the year, for that matter). Read on and you'll see, at least by Part 2...

Bowling! While many bowling alleys have gone through mini revolutions of their own, closing, opening, and closing in response to COVID numbers, the college bowl games many of you just finished watching underwent significant changes themselves, impacting both our visual and auditory sensibilities. That is, the team of producers, camera experts, and commentators went the extra yard in an attempt to sustain our enjoyment (well, at least our viewership), by adding crowd noise (which, for us boomers took us back to the time TV started utilizing canned laughter, in case we missed the cue) and subtracting the frequency of panning the crowd, after we no longer get faked out by the cutouts and prior to someone patenting a way to make the sparse audience look like a Time Square gathering (in any other year, that is). And, four weeks after the final college bowl game establishes the 'quasi-national champion', CBS is (literally) banking on millions of us tuning in to at least to see the commercials trending on February 7th. And it's about this time of the year that studies have shown most resolutions that meant so much to us on December 31st have dissolved. Ergo, the 'Super Bowl Effect'! 

A Negative Trend: In support of the 'Super Bowl Effect' are some supporting statistics and trends regarding New Years resolutions:

       - About 60% of us make them, about 8% of us are successful (overheard on New Year's eve: 

        "The ball dropping every year reminds me what I did with my resolution from the year before")

       - The largest category throughout the years are those behaviors instrumental to good health

       - Starting and sustaining a new habit difficult, successfully quitting even more challenging

         (Mark Twain: "Giving up smoking is easy...I've done it a thousand times...")

And, if the Super Bowl Effect doesn't daunt you enough to refrain from making resolutions, there's the trend that "We're just a few days after the Super Bowl and a few days away from Valentine's Day and over a third of us have already traded in our New Years resolutions for a box of chocolates" -- the 'Forrest Gump Effect'?!

Doomed to Fail...Not! (Part 2)  

 

       - 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New knews, in brief, from those in the know... On behalf of the unknowing. Also, for those immersed in religious observances, and the other “unwashed” (charitably “uniformed”)… In the briefest of moments, the temporary cease fire in the mid-east region of the world…giving new meaning to “temp”… Speaking of military and fronts, isn’t a knew twist to see a secretary of defense be put in the defensive due to his error raid signals that he has been putting out there at high frequencies… And another foreign service server informs us that plenty of add Vance notice was given in order for JD not look too conspicuous, given his mixed religious observances in his own home, to first visit the home of the pope to be followed by a fly bye to India, where he will just by convenience extend a hello to his wife's extended family (whereas her parents are professors in residence in San Diego --  talk about all knowing😔 -- all on what could soon be our “last dime”, given the thinning of minting out...
Read more
Making History, one way or another... "Let's make history..." Said one truant to the other..."we can still make it, as our teacher tends to go off..." OR, is it... "Let's skip the whole thing, all-together,..." As "There's nothing knew here...we all know how this is going to turn out...doesn't really matter...may as well stay home..." "On the brink, I think..." OR, is it... Brink, sure could use a… One more tally, still time for late night rally… A rising wave...of cynicism... Name, blame calling... "It's the e-conomy, stupid!"  Or, is it "The stupid economy that cost me..." Either/OR... My own humble hope… while we find ourselves... In the midst of…while still too close to call… A post and a toast... To one, to all...you and U.S.... Having lived through... Or, in some cases, slept through... Lessons in History... having endured... "Too close for comfort" AKA, OR, "keep your distanc...
Read more
  "King David, where art Thou?" Here and Now: When I need and you most...for a quote, a tip, let alone a quip... Clever crafted commentary: At his best, in his field, "In my humble opinion..."  "Coming to you tonight..." Each and every night, assuming we welcomed him with his partner, known in our home, as simply "Chet" when we referred to him on his own, but more formally when paired with "David" as the "Huntley-Brinkley" reporting team... Distinctly Brinkley: who got called on whenever things around here, US, were on the brink... "Sow, David..." It's how I heard it, and still remember it, as he was asked to comment, well into the eve of what was casted to be his final telecast of this type, on the eve of a second coming...of the Clintons, their return to the White House...a second (merry) go round... "For the love of Mike!" While he was not shy of the microphone, having gotten used to one on his desk ...
Read more