Resolution solutions

Have you made your resolutions for 2009? Mine were easy. I used the same from last year. And the year before that. And the year before that.

My resolutions were probably the same that many of you have: exercise more, eat and drink less, and lose weight. In 2008 I actually accomplished that, dropping 20 pounds from one year ago today.

Now my goal is to at least maintain that, and try to shed 10 more to get at my optimal fighting weight. That’s a joke, folks, I’m not a fighter, I’m a lover!

Here’s how I accomplished weight loss: I stopped playing competitive sports. I admit, that doesn’t make much sense but allow me to explain.

On my 55th birthday I decided to shut everything down. I was playing Masters basketball, and after having a ton of fun one game, I would go on the disabled list for the next few games. I was playing softball, and after having great times, tore a hand ligament that resulted in a $5K operation. That’s not the 5K I enjoy. I loved playing golf, but after one round, I could hardly walk the next couple of weeks.

Osteoarthritis suddenly entered my vocabulary. It’s a bad word, especially for someone who has been so competitive and active for so long.

For the next couple of years, I sulked. I wanted to run and walking seemed so lame and tame by comparison. I didn’t do much except watch others play. I sat around and gained weight which only added to my knee and back problems.

Then last year I decided to turn lemon into lemonade. I started taking regular three-mile walks. I started stretching and doing yoga. I adopted a no-alcohol Monday through Thursday policy. Ironically, I later discovered that people in Iceland love to drink, but only on weekends and there, anyone who drinks during the week is considered an alcoholic. Hmmm.

I did not go on a diet per se but stopped pigging out like I used to do so often, especially on Sundays and at barbecues.

It took a while but I realized that my body is like a car engine with 570,000 miles on it. Parts are wearing out. So reluctantly, I lifted my pedal off the metal and moved over to the slow lane. But now I’m healthier than in a long time

Another realization comes from the great Saipan exodus of 2008. Seems I have lost so many friends, either by them moving off-island or up to heaven, including my mother.

Because of other tragedies, I am acutely aware of how short and precious life is, and try to make each day as pleasant and joyful for others as I possibly can. “Love the one you’re with” is what Crosby, Stills, and Nash sang. I would amend that to, “Love the ones you’re with.”

Bringing happiness to others for me is about as good as losing weight. They both make me feel good, and make me look forward to 2009.

If you wish to borrow my resolutions, please go ahead. And yes, they are free, the best kind of resolutions. Oh yeah, that reminds me: in 2009 I’m going to try to live as cheap as possible. How?By concentrating on doing things that don’t cost anything, such as walking, eating less, and doing things for others. I got enough stuff already.

Hope I can make it thru the year because I already have my resolutions lined up for 2010. You probably can guess what they are.