By Shelley Powers

The procrastinator that I am, I have put off writing this column until the day before it runs. So, I guess that’s the first item to make it on my list of resolutions for 2015.

Resolution No. 1. STOP PROCRASTINATING

And, of course, with a far-too-full belly from all the Christmas treats (and Thanksgiving meals and Halloween candy and Labor Day snacks and Fourth of July food and Easter goodies and I-Have-No-Valentine consolations), I can easily make losing weight No. 2 on my list.

Resolution No. 2. GET HEALTHY

But, as I sit here in the early morning at my parent’s home, looking over my Christmas haul, my mind is not really focused on my resolutions…nor on this column, to be honest. Instead, I can’t wait to display my handcrafted Mississippi State University license plate. I’m planning what outfits I’ll wear with my new necklace and thinking of how excited I am to try my hand at making my own wheat pasta with my new pasta maker. I’m excited to listen to my new audiobook, “As You Wish.” I’m also fighting back daydreams about all the clever entries I’ll make in my new Happiness Project journal (pictured above).

Already I fear that Resolution No. 1 will be a struggle.

Right now, all my gifts, as well as my resolutions, have so much potential. Just like the new year ahead. There is so much I can accomplish and achieve. Anything is possible.

And now, I can’t stop thinking about the scene from the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, where the father talks to his son about the difference between “possibly” and “probably.”

The father explains that “possibly” means that something might or might not happen, but “probably” means there is a good chance that something will happen. The son—in the infinite wisdom of children—surmises that, when something is just possible, it’s not very likely to happen.

Just like my Christmas presents will never be of use if I don’t put them to use, my resolutions will never be resolved if I don’t take ownership of them. Therefore, I’m changing my view on the new year. No longer is anything possible; from this point forward, everything I put my mind to is probable.

And, the shift in thinking from “I might or might not stop procrastinating and lose weight” to “there’s a good chance that I will stop procrastinating and lose weight” makes me confident that 2015 is gonna be a great year for me and my goals.

I’ll be sure to keep you posted.

Happy New Year!