New Year's Resolutions

Oh dear! Judging by the topic title, New Year's Reolutions, my first reSolution must be to check spelling in my entries (and also beg Terry to fix the title here). :-{

Done.

Terry, you are an angel in disguise, I just know it! OXOXO :-)

I'm not the only angel in disguise around here. Some have so good disguises you don't even know there at work. New Years resolutions anyone?

My resolution is not make any resolutions I can't keep. And also to remember to express my gratitude. Thanks to you all for helping 1996 end so nicely. Thanks especially to Amy for bringing us together and to Terry for giving us a place to roost. (I was in the neighborhood and thought it had slipped your mind, Terry).

Myretta, I'm really grateful that you're here!

May I echo Myretta's sentiments. thank you Amy and terry and Kaff for creating this comfortable environment and collecting all these pleasnat people.

Ditto Myretta's and Katy's feelings. I thank Amy, Terry and Kaff for getting us together and then keeping us together. Not only am I keeping such nice company with all these marvellous people, but I'm also learning more about Jane Austen and computers all the time - and learning how little I know about computers as well as new math. My New Year's resolution is to keep spending as much time as possible with all of you. That is probably the only resolution that won't be broken!;-)

OK, I have a few to put here: 1. keep improving computer and Net skills 2. visit here daily 3. increase my knowledge of Austen and other Anglo/European writers 4. walk at least 15 min. daily outdoors w/ my family 5. prepare nutritionally better meals w/ family 6. help enhance the spiritual focus in family life 7. do a random act of kindness often 8. practice patience

Don't laugh, some great advice in USA Today's website: Without a plan, making a resolution just because it is New Year's will mean failure for 80% of Americans, say psychologists James Prochaska and John C. Norcross, co-authors of Changing for Good (Avon, $11). The authors, who are also researchers, say about one-quarter (23%) of pledges are broken within a week; 45% within one month; 60% in six months; 81% in two years. To keep resolutions from being thrown out with the paper party hats, Sharma suggests: Create a clear, simple action plan. "Commit your goals to writing. Attach precise deadlines to them. Review these goals every morning and visualize accomplishing them at least three times a day for five minutes over the first three months or so." Start off small. "Tackling too big a goal at the outset will dampen your motivation and lead to frustration." If you want to run a marathon, pledge yourself first to daily walks. Form your own support group. "Recruit five other people who share your resolution. Then meet once a week to discuss the challenges and the techniques that work." Remember the rule of 21. "It takes 21 days for a new habit to form. Resist the temptation to give up your new diet or exercise routine after a week." Make a public pledge. "No one likes to fail, so telling everyone you know just might put enough pressure on you to make the change for good." Reward your successes. Have that special dessert on rare occasions after you have knocked off the weight. "Soon your subconscious will realize cultivating positive habits is always well-rewarded." Use reminders. Post your goals, plus encouraging quotations, in places you'll see them all day - on the dashboard of the car, on the computer at the office. "They keep you focused and motivated." By Karen S. Peterson, USA TODAY

I resolve... To Stop Making New Year's Resolutions

Anna: "I resolve...To Stop Making New Year's Resolutions Oh, Anna, off the wagon already! ;-)

Late this evening in The Pemberley Drawing Room Rebecca and I pondered what New Year's resolutions our dear P&P characters would make and humbly submit the following: Lizzy: I resolve to practice the pianoforte, refrain from slapping Miss Bingley, and to try to not tease my dear husband too much. Darcy: I shall endeavour to curtail my pride, allow my wife to liven up my character, bath as much as possible and to indulge my dear wife's wishes by taking many dips in the pond. Jane: I shall try to be the best wife possible and to make my husband happy with a blessed event. Bingley: I promise to make the world a better place with my good aquaintance, and make my lovely wife as joyous as possible. Mrs. Bennet: To get Kitty and Mary married off to men who have twice the fortune of Bingley or Darcy, and not allow my husband to vex me any longer, and use smelling salts as little as possible. Mr. Bennet: I shall remain in my library for a minumum of 16 hours a day, leaving only long enough to eat and vex Mrs. Bennet! Mary: I will improve my exhibiting in public by mastering the pianoforte, improving my singing and reading as many novels as possible. Kitty: I promise to find myself a regimented solider to call my own, and to visit Brighton as often as I wish. Charlotte Lucas: I will read, and embroider as much as possible, and urge my husband to visit nature and get exercise as much as possible. Mr. Collins: I shall endeavour to demean and abase myself in all manner of new and inventive ways so as to procure the admirable condescension of my noble patroness, the Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Lydia: I resolve to not flirt as much with the officers as I am a married woman! Wickam: I promise to keep myself occupied as much as possible with activites that do not include my young wife. Mrs. Hurst: I plan to relieve myself of the country peasant life, and shop as much as possible in the London boutiques. Mr. Hurst: I promise I will sleep less than 12 hours a day, and will avoid consuming vast amounts of port. Caroline--I shall procure a husband this year who is at least twice as handsome and three times as rich as Mr. Darcy, for that will show him! Mr. Gardiner: I shall make time to get away from my business to fish and rescue lost nieces. Mrs. Gardiner: I resolve to visit my niece at Pemberley so that she may take me all around the park in a low phaeton, with a nice little pair of ponies. Georgianna: I shall practice the pianoforte diligently, try to overcome my shyness and spend a great deal of time with my new sister. Sir William Lucas: I resolve to attend assemblies at St. James' Court as often as I am able, and to host many balls! Maria--I shall endeavour to not be afraid of Lady Catherine and to persuade my parents to let me come "out" this year. Lady Catherine de Bourgh: I need to make no resolutions for I am perfectly fine as I am...however, I shall resolve to avoid the polluted shades of Pemberley forever! Anne de Bourgh: I resolve to go as unnoticed by my mother as is possible. Col. Fitzwilliam: I shall strive to find a good, pleasant, lively wife who has a fortune of not less than 30,000 pounds. Hill: I shall not gossip to other servants about anything having to do with nerves, smelling salts, elopements, intrigues, or seductions. Mr. Forester: I promise not to invite any more girls to visit my wife in Brighton.

ROFL Oh, Anna, off the wagon already! ;-) I was never on it; I avoid making promises I won't keep, especially to myself Oh Ann! what have you done!!!

ROFL Oh, Anna, off the wagon already! ;-) I was never on it; I avoid making promises I won't keep, especially to myself Oh Ann! what have you done!!!

more to the point - what have I done...

Cheryl, very nice indeed. I am laughing so hard. L CdB does not need any New Years resolutions. How very Very. But I wish Darcy had taken more dips in the pond so I could be happy. PS: Lets read and rent Persuasion, let me know!!!!

Re-read JA's works. Learn more about everyday life in Regency England. Find out the name of JA's secret/tragic lover. {The "Persuasion" lover.} Post and chat same to all you good Austen people. Learn country dance. Learn how to transmit graphics on this conferance. How is that done, Amy, Amy/Henry? Very nice!

I resolve to proFead more thorougjly BEFORE pressing the "Submit" button....

Caroline, I think that is a good one Idneed.

] Learn how to transmit graphics on this conferance. How is that done, Amy, Amy/Henry? Very nice! ___ Carl, thanks for the suggestion. Our little Help Angel, Ann, explains how to put up a graphic in her basic HTML tutorial: http://www.spring.com/~anneh/tagsaaaa.html#smiley which is now also linked from the main Austen conference page here. The instructions apply to pictures already up on the web somewhere. If you want to keep your pictures here, talk to Terry -- terry@spring.com. Or if you have a graphic with a *.gif or *.jpg extension, email it to me and I can put it up for you.

re 15/116: Sorry!;-)

Re all resolutions - I'll quote Mr. Bingly: "I think........"

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 116 of 121 [austen]: New Year's Resolutions Response 25 of 25: Caroline Evans (Carolineevans) * Fri, Jan 3, 1997 (08:51) * 1 lines ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Caroline, our lists are identical!

116:9 May I borrow yours France, it's EXACTLY what I need 166:10 and will read our Lizzy's resolution three times a day as mantra's.

I resolve to put more use of humor (ironic, punny, silly, all kinds) into my daily life, especially when it is evident those around me need a lift. Conversely, I resolve to treat with serious respect any troubles dear ones and others mention to me, if they really look distressed beyond comic relief. Basically, I need to time things appropriately! :-}

You've brightened up my day more than a few times, Cecily.

I resolve to put more use of humor (ironic, punny, silly, all kinds) into my daily life, especially when it is evident those around me need a lift. Conversely, I resolve to treat with serious respect any troubles dear ones and others mention to me, if they really look distressed beyond comic relief. Basically, I need to time things appropriately! :-}

DON'T ANYBODY SAY IT! I will: Basically, I need to time things appropriately! :-} AAAAAHHHHHH.........@#$%^&*

I resolve to to read all topics before I create any silly topics! Thanks Joan for saving my bacon this time!

Thank you, Ian for the opportunity to try out my newly acquired geek skill. :-)

What did you do, Joan?

Joan used her POWER!! ;-)

I "killed" his accidental topic - and miraculously it disappeared completely. Most gratifying! :-)

Ya know, I'd forgotten all about the New Year's Resolution thing...for next year, I resolve to remember, and to prepare my plans in advance...