Some of the best New Year’s resolutions are also the simplest.
In the 1940’s and 1950’s, a plain-talking folk singer from Okemah, Oklahoma changed the way millions of Americans thought about life, love, work and society. Using nothing but his voice, an old guitar, and some occasional stick figure drawings, Woody Guthrie reminded our nation that a good life, after all, is made up of little things.
Through the years, Guthrie composed more than 3,000 songs and poems, drew more than 500 illustrations, and wrote three books, always romancing the beauty and significance of everyday life. As far as Woody was concerned, there is no such thing as an insignificant person, task, contribution or intention. Everything and everyone counts.
Today, one of his most beloved and frequently quoted pieces is his hand-doodled list of New Year’s Resolutions (he called them, “New Year’s Rulins”). Plucked right out of his personal journal, Guthrie’s “Rulins” are simple and stark, but sensible. If we all adopted a few, it might change the world for the better.
I adopted six myself for 2016; see how many find a home with you.
Woody Guthrie’s 1943 “New Year’s Rulins”
- 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
- HELP WIN WAR—BEAT FASCISM
- LOVE MAMA
- LOVE PAPA
- LOVE PETE
- LOVE EVERYBODY
- MAKE UP YOUR MIND
- WAKE UP AND FIGHT
An excerpt from the best-seller, The 10 Book
by Dan Zadra and Kobi Yamada, published by Compendium, Inc., Seattle, WA. www.live-inspired.com