I resolved to give up ice cream, and so far so good. In fact it's going so well, I think I'll give up soft drinks now, since tomorrow is New Years day again. What I have not managed to do is to keep to my plan of running/walking 20-30 minutes a day every other day - started out well, but tapered off to nothing. However, Sunday marks the beginning of yet ANOTHER New Year for me - my birthday, and the beginning of my 41st year - so I believe I will re-resolve to run/walk every other day starting Sunday, however, I will lower the time requirement to 10-15 minutes. Baby steps, but steps nonetheless.

Here's an inspirational quote from a book called "No Need For Speed" about becoming a runner -
    "My running shoes have become giant erasers on my feet. Every foot strike rubs away some memory of a previous indiscretion with food or smoke or drink. Every successful mile releases me from the demons of failure. Every starting line is another chance to prove that my past will not determine my future."

I like that so much that I have changed it slightly to make it mine:
EVERY START IS ANOTHER CHANCE TO PROVE THAT MY PAST WILL NOT DICTATE MY FUTURE!

The greatest benefit of running every other day that I had started to realize is that it improves your wind for singing. Resolutions aside, my one big goal for the year is to finally sing in public - to actually perform in front of people other than friends and relatives.

If there's any one else out there who is trying to include some regular running or walking in their lives, maybe we could support each other.

Helen, congratulations, and John as well, and Ebbie, you too - feng shui principles say that you reap unforeseen benefits when you eliminate clutter from areas of your life, and that you have to let go of the old to make room for the new - I think that this is true based on my own experience, but I'd love to hear about it if it turns out to be true for you too -Suzanne