When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, I tend to keep them to myself. It’s like I have a superstitious belief or something, that’s basically like if I make my resolutions known to others, then it becomes less likely to succeed. Sometimes I wonder if other people have that kind of mindset when it comes to resolutions, regardless of the fact that those who go with the tried and true “lose weight/save money” become kind of obvious in their behaviors, but for what it’s worth, I like to keep my resolutions somewhat private, for the sake of hoping they succeed.
That being said, with a day left in 2014, I figure it’s safe to pull the veil back just a little bit to my six readers, and let the cat out of the bag to what some of my resolutions were over this year, as well as the year prior.
This time last year, I made a short post with what I had striven to be a frustrated tone, because that’s precisely how I felt when I wrote it. It was about how I had failed to achieve my one resolution in 2013, and how I was going to give it another go in 2014, but lower the criteria, lower the bar to the absolute lowest it could possibly get. And that if I failed to achieve it in 2014, then I would have no choice but to make some dramatic changes in my life come 2015.
It’s probably not a surprise to those of whom know me that my resolutions would have to do with my love life, or lack thereof, but 2013’s was simply to go on three dates. Get out in the world, talk with a girl or girls, and actually make an effort to go on three paltry dates. Coffee. A single beer. A quick lunch at one of the many taco joints within Atlanta. Three with one girl. One with three different girls. Just whatever, three dates. There are 14-year olds more capable of going on three dates in a year than I was, but it was something that even I could muster up the courage to do, right? Wrong.
So when I batted an 0-fer in 2013, I realized that I had clearly set the bar too high for myself. The aforementioned lowering of the bar as low as it could possibly go, meant that in 2014, I resolved to go on one date, just one measly single date. That’s it. One date, and my resolutions for all of 2014 would be fulfilled, successfully.
And if I failed to succeed in going on a single date in 2014, the aforementioned change that I’d have to make was to swallow my pride, accept defeat in my staunch beliefs that romance could be pursued without the aid of an internet connection, and give online dating a whirl, come 2015. Long-time readers of the brog might recall that I absolutely abhor the idea of relying on the internet in order to get a date, but frankly, if I couldn’t land a single date in an entire calendar year, then clearly my method of trying to meet girls is obviously not working.
So obviously, I wouldn’t be writing about this subject if I failed yet again, right? The fact that I’m taking the time to write about this clearly has to mean good news, yes? I’m obviously giddy with success, and this is all an obvious lead up to what’s amounted to a success story, regardless of how low the bar was set, no?
Goddamn right it is.
I succeeded in going on my one date in 2014. Furthermore, I kind of made up for 2013, by going on several more on top of it. And the kicker is, that I’ve masterfully duped the poor girl involved in all these dates into inconceivably agreeing to be my girlfriend. Funny how things escalate sometimes.
At this point, some reading this might actually be surprised at this revelation. My mother literally said “thank god” when I revealed that I had a girlfriend now. A few people have figured it out from social media, and then there’s the few people that pretty much knew because I told them, or that they’re not blind. But yes, I have a girlfriend, and am very happy about it.
I’m not just happy that I fulfilled a New Year’s resolution, but I’m happy the way it turned out. How everything that followed turned out.
Long story short, everything’s basically been to my own terms, and in spite of how difficult it was, or how difficult I made things, I didn’t have to compromise any of my own silly beliefs and staunch criteria.
I wanted a story, and we’ve most certainly got a story, in regards to our introductions and how it led up to a budding relationship. I’m happy to tell those who want to know, but honestly, it’s not that I don’t want to write about it, after all, I’m already going into detail about this much, but it’s just one of those kinds of stories that I think are typically best shared verbally and in close comforts. But I can tell you that it didn’t involve any online dating services, I didn’t ever see a JPEG of her as my first time seeing her, and that the whole chase was done on my own clumsy, bumbling, awkward, trying-to-be-charming, hesitating terms.
In other words, I can’t speak for she who is stuck with me, but I really wouldn’t have had it any other way, except maybe acting earlier. But then again, nailing the perfect timing isn’t always me, either.
Needless to say, I can confidently say that as far as my 2014 went, I think it was pretty good. I’m pleased to be able to say that I fulfilled a New Year’s resolution for once, and the subsequent then some that came along with it, which most certainly ended my year out strongly. I managed to hold true to my own staunch beliefs, and somehow managed to pull through and actually succeed.
I didn’t compromise, and I still got what I wanted.
I won.
And it feels great.
Here’s hoping to a 2015 that continues being good for me, improves for those who didn’t have such great 2014s, gets even better for everyone else, and is full of positive times, fun stories, and fantastic memories.
