preview / By Andrew Goff

We Planned Your New Year’s Day

(Dec. 29, 2011)  Creatures of habit,we human beings be. As evolved as we like to think we are, able to own and snuff out aspects of our personality when we think we need to, we usually need some sort of painful push for change to initiate. An unflattering picture of your stomach hanging out of your shirt tagged on Facebook. Your second starring role in the weekly Times-Standard DUI Hall of Shame. Your hamster died this time. There’s plenty o’ ways to hit rock bottom.

But there is one (and only one) way to forgo public embarrassment and still tackle personal growth: The Arbitrary Date Method.

For some reason, human beings think that numbers and dates carry way more weight than they actually do (see 666, or Harold Camping’s end-of-the-world predictions from earlier this year, or the Mayan version scheduled to hit soon). Yeah, we’re kinda dumb. But some people have found a way to use this irrationality to their advantage (The ADM) by making statements like, “By golly, as of (insert significant date) I’m never eating another Chalupa again!” Studies show sometimes it works.

Let’s try it. Do your yourself a favor and take advantage of the most universal arbitrary-yet-significant date we got — New Year’s Day — and become a better person, dammit! Here are the resolutions the Journal has decided you’re making and the ways you’re going to make them:

Be Community: Start your New Year’s Day bright and early at 8 a.m. with a hearty breakfast and the embrace of your fellow man at the special New Year’s Breakfast at the Freshwater Grange. Enjoy pancakes, ham, sausage — you know, the works — while you gab about our spiffy new fiber optic line and other local gossip! Joy!

Exercise More: Wolf down that grub quick, ‘cuz you’ve got to hustle down to Fortuna so that you can burn it off during the annual From Day One Walk, which raises funds to eradicate polio — Hey! Two good things! The strutting begins at 9 a.m. and leaves from Rohner Park. Wear comfortable shoes; you’re gonna use them later, too!

Expand Your Vocabulary: After some good cardio, head back up the 101 for the favorite recurring calendar event of the NCJ editorial staff. New Year’s Day is the first meeting of the Redwood Coast Scrabble Club at the Arcata Community Center from 1-5 p.m. — as is the case just about every week if you’re ever jonesing for face-to-face competitive word gaming (Word with Friends is sooo 2011). Don’t try to sneak in any blank tiles. They check pockets at the door.

Go Outside More: After you’ve racked up all the triple word scores rackable, head to the other side of Samoa Boulevard and put your walkin’ shoes back on — told you — for the weekly Friends of the Arcata Marsh Tour. Jenny Hanson will be your guide for a special two-hour edition. See, your New Year is looking pretty healthy and active. Kudos.

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