Woody Guthrie’s New Year’s Resolutions
I’m often lazy with resolutions. Some years I give myself until the end of January to sort out exceptional goals for the new year. In studying what reseachers say works best, I stumbled across this list.
Apparently Woody Guthrie, one of my heroes, had a different problem. He didn’t seem to do too well with setting clear priorities. He lists 33 things for the year of 1942. Inspiring given the results, nevertheless.
Guthrie’s new years resolutions (from the official site), 1942:
- Work more and better
- Work by a schedule
- Wash teeth if any
- Shave
- Take bath
- Eat good – fruit – vegetables – milk
- Drink very scant if any
- Write a song a day
- Wear clean clothes – look good
- Shine shoes
- Change socks
- Change bed clothes often
- Read lots good books
- Listen to radio a lot
- Learn people better
- Keep rancho clean
- Don’t get lonesome
- Stay glad
- Keep hoping machine running
- Dream good
- Bank all extra money
- Save Dough
- Have company but don’t waste time
- Send Mary and kids money
- Play and sing good
- Dance Better
- Hep win war – beat fascism
- Love Mama
- Love Papa
- Love Pete
- Love Everybody
- Make up your mind
- Wake up and Fight
Also see: New years resolutions that work
Precious. Another wonderful example of what a journal or notebook can do for people – including yourself – even decades later.
Item 27: I certainly shall not bear fascism! I’d rather help win the war.
Wow, that’s a simple list. Very cool that you posted this. I like #3. Wash teeth… if any.
#31 is good too and #33.
#8 would be good for us bloggers… write a blogpost a day.
#33 is the hardest, I think.
As a self-declared epileptic rhino on the dance floor, I understand #26, but just don’t think a year is enough time.
I think #29 says “Love Papa”
Just the most beautiful thing. It has been an entertaining day reading what my friends chose as theirs.
Soooo… What resolution(s) did *you* settle on?
Interesting resolution not to get “lonesome”.
I like the fact that Guthrie saw the importance of routine in his work that he felt the need to write a song each day, rather than wait for inspiration.
Interesting to see that “Wake up and Fight” is his last resolution, rather than his first.
MR.GUTHRIE KNEW WHO HE WAS. KNOWING IS UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF WHO I AM OR WHO YOU ARE: YOUR COGNITIVE ABILITY TO RELATE TO EMOTIONS,AND TRY TO CREATE A PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT: TO LIVE AND LET LIVE; TO KNOW YOURSELF….WOW #33:)
#1 WORK MORE AND BETTER:)