Brian Grey Blog

Ok, this is the easiest blog post of the year. The good ‘ol New Year’s resolutions for 2009.

Well, as a sign of the times — and my personal mantra to “simplify and focus”, I’ve decided to pare down my list this year to just a single resolution. It’s a resolution that I think everyone should put at the top of their list in 2009. And it’s not probably what you’re thinking.

However, before I share my singular goal for the coming year, let me list a few items that I am not resolved to change or fix next year:

1. Reading more — How the hell can anyone be expected to read more in a world of Nintendo Wii, DVRs, iPhones and a million other technology gadgets? It’s just not possible, unless we’re just talking about “gross words read” and I get to count reading blogs? If that’s the case, I may read more in 2009.

2. Sleeping more — C’mon! If anyone with kids ever puts this one down it’s like they’re just screwing with the whole concept of New Year’s resolutions. The only way I’m getting more sleep in 2009 than in the previous nine years is if my wife and I decide to add Benadryl as a food group for our kids at the family dinner table. Maybe Trader Joe’s can drop a little Benadryl in those frozen chicken taquitos?

3. Focusing on my career — This is 2009 we’re talking about right?

4. Spending more time with my friends and family — Ok, given this is 2009 we’re talking about, this one may just happen by default, you know, without even really trying. Given the prospects for the coming year, I might have to resolve to not spend too much time with friends and family for fear of running out of things to talk to people about.

5. Volunteering more — Now this one should be on the list, and in a perfect world it’s a close number two to the big one. But alas, in an effort to stay extremely focused on my sole resolution, volunteering will have to be limited to coaching my daughters’ sports teams next year.

Ok, now that I’ve laid out what I’m resolved NOT to deal with in 2009, what is my number one priority in the coming year?

Drum roll please…my resolution for 2009 is to get myself PHYSICALLY FIT AND HEALTHY. More specifically, my goal is to get my weight down to 199 lbs. before the end of the year. This is what I will be referring to as “Project 199″ and I’ll drop a weekly update on the bgrey blog with a status report on my progress against the goal. Better yet, I may break out a whole new blog focused on this important topic.

Getting to a very specific health goal at this point feels like the most important resolution I could make. A resolution whose benefits accrue not just to me, but to my wife and daughters. I will be encouraging all my male friends to take a real assessment of their health and fitness in 2009 for the same reason.

Oh, and feel free to kick me in the shins (or some other really sensitive body part) if we’re out to dinner together in 2009 and I ask for a dessert menu!

Happy 2009 to you all!