The one New Year's resolution I can remember that I kept more than a week was my 1968 resolution to stop inflicting my cigarette smoke on my housemates: my wife and 7 month old son. A couple of weeks into January I went to a friend's house for a poker game and bummed one cigarette. I found it to be immensely unsatisfying, compared to what I was smoking instead of tobacco. I never touched another one, and I cannot imagine starting again--although I have a dream from time to time in which I do. I again resolve not to smoke any tobacco in 1999. I also resolve to try to be the kind of person I would like to be, more patient, kinder, more generous, more in control of my impulses, a little better at doing what needs to be done, and--most of all--less critical of myself. --seed

Did that last bit cancel all the rest? I hope not.