Holiday greetings

          As I've learned about myself over the years it never works to make new year resolutions.  Instead what sticks with me longer is to set a general theme for the new year.  In 2006 the theme I picked was plan ahead.  Yes, that's such a common bit of advice good for anyone, but I never took it myself.  I marked a day on the calender, mid year, for a party I wanted to give.  Then I started getting ready from the ground up.  I did things like cleaning closets, getting rid of excess stuff and painting walls.  I even plotted a count down on the calendar.  To my surprise, things got done.  By the party my house and yard were clean and tidy.  That's how I tricked myself into keeping a resolution, which really wasn't a resolution but a theme. 

          Right now I'm wondering how I can work skating into my general theme, or resolution.  Maybe I'll write "skate backwards with confidence and control."  I will pick a date on the calendar that I can work towards and then set to work to make it happen by that time.  I wonder if that's realistic.  Would it work?  Hmmmm.  Let me see.  Meanwhile, here is my Winter Solstice greeting: a drawing of me skating.  Happy skating!