New Year’s Day. Also known as my birthday, but that’s not what’s important here. My wife’s birthday will be upon us shortly, and this, my friends, is all-hands-on-deck, DEFCON1. A twenty-four-hour period of celebrating all that is perfect with my spouse. She will lean in, expecting me to remind her of how awesome she is. There will be hourly check-ins. There will be questions to test my knowledge of her awesomeness, and near nonstop reminders of how shitty my life would be had I made a different decision all those years ago.
I woke thinking about books.
I recently acquired a new camera. I’m semi-afraid of it due to the cost, but I traded for it, so the pain is only slight. Anytime I acquire a new camera, my brain instantly goes to two things. One, what project can I create specifically for this camera, and two, what book can I make from that project? Everything, and I mean everything, ends in book. This won’t be the same for everyone, but that’s okay.
My idea is to make a picture around the periphery of another ongoing project regarding birds. Seeing as I just landed on fifty-seven, this makes perfect sense. Birds sneak up on you. It’s true. Midlife crisis, failing health, lack of better options, an arrant feeder, whatever works to turn someone toward birds. Birds have given me purpose in new places and times. They are my constant companion, and a brilliant way to continue to produce work regardless of where I am. And just so you know, I don’t know shit about birds. Not yet, anyway. I’m the guy standing in a group of real birders spotting some rare creature, only to hear me ask, “What, is that a sparrow?” Most birders are kind, so after simultaneously regaining their composure and realizing I wasn’t joking, they share their knowledge without complaint.
But let me get to the point of this post. Resolutions. I don’t make them. Never have.
Many other people do, however. I was listening to AM radio in the van, as you do when you are fifty-seven, and I came across a conversation about resolutions. One person in their 20s, one in their 30s, and the last in their 40s. They had compiled a list of resolutions ranked in order of importance. I find this fascinating, and also a bit scary.
The first resolution for all three was “getting in shape.” They all associated this with something requiring a trip to a gym, which in my mind reduces the likelihood of success by at least fifty percent. Consider cost and travel time. Before or after work, boom. Not easy. They spoke of how crowded the gym would be over the first two weeks of the year, and how this would keep them from going, further diminishing their chances of attaining the goal. This is akin to someone thinking nature is something you must drive to. It’s not. It’s right outside your door, and getting in shape doesn’t even require opening your door.
The second resolution was “read more.” Commendable. You know my thoughts on reading. I know more than a few people who can no longer read book-length material. They make all kinds of excuses, but the reality is their phone has taken over, rewiring their ability to focus. Your brain is waiting for you to tell it how to change, so ingesting nothing but microdoses of dopamine all day doesn’t bode well for long-form pondering. The three talked about ways to circumvent traditional reading. Books on tape, choosing shorter books, focusing on fiction only, and they admitted that NOT reading ever again was totally fine. (40% of US college grads don’t read a book for the rest of their life post graduation, 30% of high school seniors.)
The third resolution was where things got interesting. “Stay off social.” Remember, these resolutions were ranked in terms of importance. They admitted how silly, dangerous, and time-consuming social media had become, and yet none of the three thought this was a realistic resolution. They had given up before they began. But think about this in terms of an important resolution. Ranked third, meaning they KNOW how important it SHOULD be, but how impossible it WOULD be. This continues to blow my mind. Adults who just can’t leave it alone, while admitting how detrimental it is to their health and society in general.
Resolution number four was, “Stop drinking.” Yes, ranked BEHIND “stay off social.” Wow. Alcohol use and abuse falling behind social media shouldn’t have been a surprise, but it was. We probably all know someone with an alcohol issue. We know the destruction it can cause, so on one hand, a great resolution to fight for. Ranking it behind “staying off social” is peculiar and probably not a good barometer for success.
The final resolution was “Learn a language.” I love this, but I also know how difficult this is, especially when you turn fifty-seven. My mottled little brain feels maxed out most of the time, so adding a second or third tongue feels daunting. Plus, for me at least, the only way to learn a new language is to move to a country where that is the primary spoken language. I took numerous years of Spanish in high school and college, but one month at a language school in Guatemala was more productive. But again, love this goal.
Maybe I should start a resolution campaign? Resolution one: never resolve! Check. Got it. Done. Maybe I do make resolutions, but label them under a “to-do list.” Either way, if you make resolutions, I hope you attain them all. If I had to choose something to work toward, it would be the old, tired trope of “Be here now.” Yep, be in the now. I find this incredibly challenging. Dates, duties, flights, goals, talks, workshops, etc. Feels like I’m always looking ahead.
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Geez, my wife has a birth Quarter! Prepare yourself
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Mine will milk this for days too. Maybe not a full quarter.
Happy Birthday Dan!
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Thanks my friend. Long time no see. Hope you are well and doing your thing.
The resolution game people play with themselves is interesting. I am occasionally guilty myself but it’s due to being put on the spot in a social situation. This year things are a bit different in that I have a major surgery looming so I will endeavor to lose a bit of weight prior to the surgery.
The other thing I will try and adjust for 2026 is my usage of time; instead of sorting clothes to get out of the house on the 1 day it’s not raining, I will use that outdoor time for an outdoor task since sorting of clothes (or any other mundane indoor task) requires zero help from Mother nature.
Happy Birthday, Happy New Year, and Happy Birthday to your wife.
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Eye on the prize. And good luck with the surgery. Never fun unless you are getting massive bicep implants.
HBD. HNY. HBD to wife. I don’t do resolutions either. Closest that I’ve come is trying to figure out a photo project for 2026, still dithering. Back when I was a regular in the pool, we used to dread the influx of the “resolutionistas” as we called them. There’d be a couple weeks of people not knowing what lane to swim in, or what pool etiquette is. And 57 is young. Being all in on your spouse’s birthday is nice, but take it from someone a few days from married 41 years, being at least part way in the rest of the year is a good idea. Which I admit has been sometimes honoured more in the breech than the observance, but I try.
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Happy wife = happy life. Done. So true.
damn you, milnor. you inspire me everytime! (what’s the camera? we gotta know 🙂 ). HNY, linda, aka brooklyn girl
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It’s in that first photograph. Leica Q3/43. Lovely so far. But barely used.
My wife has a birthday week. I don’t make resolutions either. Seems silly to wait until the New Year to make improvements.
Q3 is my guess
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Yep, that first photo. Q3/43. Can’t wait to REALLY use it.
I dont believe in new years resolutions, either. Happy birthday. I do have a reading goal of at least 50 books. Already have one marked off. Started two others the other day.
Ive been thinking of books, too. I started birding when covid hit and been obsessed since.
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That’s where I’m at for this year. 50. Not sure what next year will bring. A lot of travel on my horizon, and the trips I do rarely afford much reading time. And I fall asleep on planes.
Danielsan, Your 57th Birthday – You have the world by the cojones! Just, don’t do it…Don’t let “the old man in” and you’ll be fine.
“You have the world by the cojones!” at 70 the problem is, you can’t bend over enough to get a hold of them.
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You need a wingman.
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Never. That punk ass had his pass revoked.
Looks as if you got yourself a Leica? I resonate with your statement “Everything, and I mean everything, ends in book.” That’s my long term goal as well with my projects. My first love was books, my second love was photography and the process of creating a book, although challenging, is a tangible way for me to put my passion into something I can hold in my hands that lives on. No resolutions for a new year, I keep up my goals throughout the year. Birds snuck up on me years ago. I fell in love with finch birds. Their chirpy sounds, their cute size and yellow colors. I set up feeders outside my office window and feed them special seed from India. My whole purpose for being on social is to connect with others, so I can share my books. Be Here Now – the famous book by Ram Dass published in 1971. Not a tired trope, it’s about coming home to being human. Wishing you a good year, Milnor. Look forward to your posts and next adventures.
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Traded myself into a digital Leica. I knew it would happen at some point. Books and birds. Not a bad way to aim into the last half of life. Good luck in Mex. Keep me posted how things are going.
“He who breaks a resolution is a weakling; He who makes one is a fool.” ~ Farquhar McGillivray Knowles. Happy birthday, Sir.
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I’d just forget within about two weeks.
Happy Birthday! Today is also my late mother’s birthday- she passed away last summer. We’ve had a tradition of celebrating her birthday with Chinese food for dinner for the last 50 years, so the family has decided to keep up the tradition. I like to celebrate my birthday week, which is about avoiding housework and cooking, and going out and having fun.
Happy New Year’s Day to everyone. Started off the new year with a dip in the ocean this morning- current temp 6.4C (43F). It was a foggy morning at the beach, very beautiful, and providing you survive, it feels really warm once you get out of the water.
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Alright. Me and your mom. So cool. Sorry to hear about her passing. Mine went last year too. I have a sinking suspicion I might take a polar dip in the next few weeks. I’m already cold.
Happy birthday! And happy birthday to your sweet, long suffering wife! LOL Just kidding! As for resolutions… naw.
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Thank you! And ya. I’m going with “remember to wake up.”
The only resolution worth keeping is to burn all the unfinished projects from the previous year … and move on.
And Happy B’day Dan. Remember— there’s your chronological age and then your biological age. I just take care of the latter.
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I”m worried about my brain age….
Happy Birthday Dan. Hope your day was filled with all things that keep you in the present and the wheels turning: Journaling, reading, trip planning, photographing, working out, being in nature, etc.
Cool to know another Capricorn only days apart, may also explain why your experience and wisdom resonates for me in this time and space.l we call now. Thank you.
Also early birthday wishes to your better half.
Loving the latest posts.
Regards,
A.
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I did almost nothing. Just as I wanted. Someone asked my wife what she did for my birthday. She said, “I left him alone.”
Happy Birthday Daniel.
‘Nuff said.
Have fun with the new toy… 🙂
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Gracias!
All the best for your birthday Dan! and Sir, youhave treated yourself to a nice gift! 🙂 enjoy! Also, share in a bit how does it performs in the real world. I’m looking forward to Patagonia updates too. I’m turning 40 in a few months and a trip to South Amercia is very high on my bucket list, so maybe I’ll treat myself to some adventure 🙂
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We are pretty excited about this little voyage. Not taking the Q on this trip but will take it on the rest of my trips in 2026.
Hey, a fellow Capricorn. GOAT 🙂
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Howdy. So tired of trending….
Happy Birthday Dan! And Happy Birthday to your wife too.
and thanks for being around man.
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Thank you for being here and taking the time to write.
A belated Happy Birthday Dan and all the best for 2026! Happy upcoming Birthday to Amy too!
I’m behind reading the blog posts as I’ve just come back from visiting family in the UK to arrive back to -9’c temps in Germany.
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Yikes! That’s officially cold. And thank you Paul!
Happy, healthy, and a harmonious birthday and new year to you Dan, and to Amy a special hug for her birthday week.
No new year’s resolution for me either – a waste of precious time…..
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Thanks Reid!
Happy birthday you old fart. Leica keeps coming back into your world. What did you trade for it if I might ask?
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My M4 film Leica. Hadn’t used it in six years.
I moved to Australia and married an Aussie girl and soon learned that it’s Birthday Month here!!
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Smart move.
Hi Dan, I just came across information that Leica has released firmware 4.0 for the Q3, and apparently there are a lot of improvements. I’m not sure if you’ve already received the memo from Wetzlar, so I’m just leaving this note here 😉
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I upgraded!
Happy Belated Birthday and good to see you in the field this mornin exploring Patagonia.
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Thank you!