I don't really believe in New Year's resolutions. The idea itself is not without merit. A new year is a time for new beginnings, so what better time to resolve to be better, healthier, kinder people? The problem, of course, is that very few people manage to keep their New Year's resolutions. I dare say that a large majority of people forget their resolutions by the time the celebratory confetti is cleared away. And so when I tried to think of a New Year's resolution, I was stumped. The usual "eat less, exercise more" mantra didn't seem worth it anymore. I was just about to give up entirely when an idea struck me; it seemed like a perfect resolution, really. I would resolve to survive my first New Hampshire winter.
Now to some people, this might seem like a silly, pitiable, almost laughable resolution. I mean -- how bad can the winter really be? Very bad, from what I've heard, anyway. I've heard several scary winter stories, tales of woe containing miles of snow, below zero temperatures and cabin fever. I've heard of people with normally sunny dispositions being depressed all winter. I've heard of people whose hair froze because they went out with wet hair. I've heard of long walks to the River while being blasted by the "Siberian Express" winds. Exaggerated or not, these tales scare me a little. It's not like I've experienced real winters before.
To fully understand my position, you must remember that I hail from Washington, D.C., a wonderful city, but also one of the wimpiest as far as winters go. We seldom get more than a few inches of snow at a time and when we do, the entire city shuts down. I am not exaggerating -- it's the complete truth. All the area schools get snow days. Federal employees get liberal leave. People rush to grocery stores to stock up on necessities. The metro and bus systems get delayed. Basically, the whole city freaks out. One would think that since this pattern is repeated year after year, someone would get a clue. One would be wrong, of course. We in D.C. are forever destined to be wimps, it seems. It might be nature's way of emasculating a city otherwise obsessed with its own power and importance. Either way, my point is that living in D.C. has not prepared me for New Hampshire winter.
So I made my resolution and decided to come up with a game plan. That's the only way I have any hope of surviving the winter. Maybe I shouldn't say "survive" because I am pretty sure I can survive the winter. I just wouldn't leave my room unless absolutely necessary. But I don't want that, either. I might get rather claustrophobic. So I guess the goal is not just to survive, but to survive with some degree of happiness and contentment. Is it an achievable goal? I'd like to think so. The key, I believe, is to follow a few simple steps:
First of all, dress warmly. I've heard this stressed on several occasions. My former "winter coat" has been relegated to my fall coat and I just purchased myself a real down jacket type of deal, which the nice salespeople assured me would keep me plenty warm. I sure hope they're right. But the coat is just one aspect. Don't forget the hat and the gloves. And of course, dress in layers. The buildings are almost always like saunas, so shedding extra layers is in order. By keeping these simple directions in mind, I should be able to stay warm when outdoors.
Secondly, go outside. This seemed like a confusing idea to me at first, but on deliberation, it makes sense. Staying cooped up in your room can be depressing. To avoid being depressed all winter, it is important to go enjoy the snow. For the athletic minded, this means doing crazy winter sports like skiing and snowboarding. And as much fun as breaking my neck and all my ribs sounds, I think I might have to pass. I am not that adventurous, not right now anyway. But I can still make snow angels, have snowball fights or just plain admire the beauty of the snow -- or go ice skating or something -- anything to leave the confines of my room.
Lastly, use common sense. I guess this one might be the hardest to follow. It means that I should know that going to frats in skimpy clothes in the dead of winter is not a good idea. Neither is going out with wet hair. Or knowing that I should wear sensible shoes that allow me to walk on slippery ice. Little things like that. I'm not really sure how well I'm going to do in this department. It's not like I have that much common sense in general. I'll treat it as a learning experience, I guess.
I usually never keep my New Year's resolutions, which is one of the reasons I don't believe in them. But I'm hoping this year will be different. My diagnosis of the problem was that my goals were too high. I should know that I'll never run two miles everyday. But this time, it's not just a resolution, it's a matter of survival. And I intend to survive. Failing that, I can always transfer, right?
