Winter Hiking, New Year's Resolutions & Glitter

As a rule I don’t advocate making New Year’s resolutions. So easily broken; they’re like lies. But too strict an adherence to rules makes one old and stodgy, so this year I'll not discourage you. Go ahead, make a glittery little resolution or two in honor of the coolest new year in a decade. Yippee 2010!

Let’s say for example, your New Year’s resolution is to be more active and get out of doors more often. This would be an excellent variation on a common theme. Getting fit and/or losing weight has to be the most popular New Year’s resolution. It is certainly the poster-boy for resolutions abandoned. New Year’s resolutions make the word resolve feel insecure and ill-used.

But why be pessimistic needlessly? Let’s find some charm in this annual ritual. We could think of New Year’s resolutions as a secularized Lent. Americans of all religions stuff themselves to excess from Thanksgiving through New Years and then, in togetherness, suffer penitence and self-denial for a few weeks. It’s a bonding experience.

But if you are attached to your resolution and are going to persevere in your commitment to getting more exercise and fresh air, then I have to point out one thing: it’s winter. Wouldn’t it be better to make a bid for change in the spring? In the natural world, right now is the time for hibernation. I propose we ditch the New Year’s resolution in favor of the Spring Equinox resolution!

OK, I see you are very stubborn. All right then, this is my suggestion: if you’re going to do it, make it fun. You’re 90% more likely to stick to your resolution and 100% more likely to enjoy it. For outdoor winter recreation, such as winter hiking, I suggest glitter and rhinestones. It goes well with the theme of refracted light, icicles and snowflakes. Plus it makes you feel special. When you feel good about yourself, you feel better about whatever you’re doing and if you feel good about what you’re doing your less likely to drop it as soon as the next paranormal romance in your favorite vampire series comes out.

I know what you’re going to say, “But Annie I’m only going to freeze my butt off if I go outside dressed like you are in that crazy picture above!” You silly, you're supposed to wear your parka over the glitz. It’s natural to reject new ideas until you get used to them, but this idea isn’t new. You already know that wearing black lacy under things gives you a little swagger even if you’re just wearing a ratty t-shirt and jeans. It’s the same with glitter and coats.

You’re not entirely convinced. You remember my earlier posting in which I extol the virtues of dressing like you belong on the trail. That was summer (and spring and fall) this is winter, everything is different. You’re alone out there in the woods. This is all about you. You deserve to feel good, so glitter up, we love you.