Resolution Shmesolution

Another year has come and gone...and SO quickly!! New Year's Eve 2008 is upon us and I feel like it should still be summer! I toyed with the idea of making a resolution...for about five seconds and decided there wasn't any point! Why should it make any difference if I make a resolution now or in three months? there's nothing magical about New Year's Eve....or at least there hasn't been for the past 33 that I have experienced. So for those of you who might be wavering on whether or not to make a resolution, here are some statistics for you to ponder:

* 45% of Americans usually set New Year’s Resolutions; 17% infrequently set resolutions; 38% absolutely never set resolutions.

* Only 8% of people are always successful in achieving their resolutions. 19% achieve their resolutions every other year. 49% have infrequent success. 24% (one in four people) NEVER succeed and have failed on every resolution every year. That means that 3 out of 4 people almost never succeed.

* Of those who do set resolutions (these add to more than 100% because some people set multiple resolutions):
o 34% set resolutions related to money
o 38% set resolutions related to weight
o 47% set resolutions related to self-improvement or education
o 31% set resolutions related to relationships

* It appears that the younger you are, the more likely you are to achieve your resolutions

o 39% of those in their twenties achieve their resolutions every year or every other year

o Less than 15% of those over 50 achieve their resolutions every year or every other year

* The less happy you are, the more likely you are to set New Year’s Resolutions. This is especially true for those who set money-related resolutions: 41% are not happy, 34% are moderately happy, and 25% are happy.



* And here’s the punchline - There is no correlation between happiness and resolution setting/success. People who achieve their resolutions every year are NO happier than those who do not set resolutions or who are unsuccessful in achieving them.

Soooo....what's your New Year's resolution? Maybe to not have one this year? One less thing to worry about!! Happy New Year!!!

Bouquet Toss

The practice of the tossing the bridal bouquet is believed to be an outgrowth of an idea that was popular in the 14th century, particularly in early French tradition. It was considered lucky to get a fragment of the bride's clothing. In those days, the bride was treated poorly. Guests would grab at her wedding dress in order to tear off pieces. Although brides continued to believe that they would not be wearing their wedding gowns again, they objected to its wanton destruction. They looked for an alternative and, instead began the custom of throwing personal articles, such as the garter, to the guests.

I understand that this has been a tradition for a long time HOWEVER not all of us are overjoyed to be involved. Being 33 and still single, I am one of those that avoid this particular tradition at all costs!! At recent weddings of friends, I use this time to capture the moment with my camera so I couldn’t possibly participate! It usually works…. On the weekend after Thanksgiving I was in a wedding for a friend I have known since first grade….my friend Niki. I haven’t seen her much over the last several years because we now live in different states, but when I do see her and Stanley (her new husband), they are always trying to set me up with someone or give me advice on finding someone.

At her reception, she dragged me out to the front of the group of women for the bouquet toss. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she pointed me out to the DJ, so when she turned around and I slipped behind everyone, HE called me back to the front! Then when she went to toss it,

I ducked down to avoid catching it.

However, she had faked tossing it….. Instead she just turned around and threw it to me. My instinctual reaction was to get it away from me, so I brushed it to the side and right into the hands of her nineteen year old niece! Whew!! Catastrophe avoided!! Please remind me of this when I get married and I’m planning my reception….