COLUMN: Babystepping her way to better resolutions

Hi readers.

It’s been awhile since we’ve talked – in fact, I think it was way back last year.

Yuk, yuk, yuk … I know -- old, stale joke. But cut me a little slack — I’m coming off of 10 whole days of vacation and holiday cheer, an eternity in this business. Not to mention, I’m trying to get used to the brand new 2012 version of me. It’s going to be so different from the 2011 model.

I’m going to eat less, drink less, exercise more, lose weight, get fit, save money, keep things cleaner and more organized … sounding a bit familiar to anyone?

It certainly does to me, because in the past, I’ve made all those resolutions at one time or another. And in most cases, I’ve failed miserably.

So guess what? This year, I decided to dumb it down a bit. I’m making resolutions I can (and actually might) keep.

For starters, I’ve pledged to and already begun putting my debit card back into my wallet every time I use it. Now, this might not seem like a big deal to most. But ask my mom or my best friend, and they’ll vouch for me. This is a huge accomplishment.

I can’t tell you how many times Leigh Reed (said best friend) has stood at a cash register with me as I frantically dumped out the contents of my purse in search of my debit card. Most of those times, I was able to find it and pay without incident. But there have been some “incidents” resulting from my habit of haphazardly tossing my card in my bottomless purse or in my coat pocket or in my jeans pocket or in my checkbook or any other place I deemed more convenient than the 30 seconds it would have taken to put it in its place.

Just ask another one of my buddies Jason Purvis how many times he’s gotten this frantic call from me: “Purvis, is my bank card in your car? You haven’t seen it? Well, go check again, please.”

Nine out of 10 of those times my next call has been to my bank to cancel one card and order another. (Once, I actually lucked up and found it in my front yard just as I was getting ready to make the bank call. No, I have no idea how it got there.)

So, with all that explained, this is a big step for me – one I’m sure Leigh, Purvis and the rest of my friends will most certainly appreciate.

Don’t worry. I’m not delusional enough to think debit card placement counts as real self-improvement. I do have a few other personal “goals” for the year, and some of them are pretty traditional. But this year, I’m approaching them in different ways. In most cases, I’m setting more immediate, attainable short-term goals that will keep me feeling accomplished and hopefully ultimately lead to the big pay-off.

Only time will tell.

I wish all of you the best in your goals and the coming year in general.

In the meantime, here’s to a resolution we can all keep: supporting the arts and all the many great local causes in the Pee Dee in 2012!

Have a great week, and I’ll see ya on the town!

-- Morning News Digital Journalist Traci Bridges is on the town and in Currents every Thursday. Contact her at (843) 317-7325 or tbridges@florencenews.com. Or catch her easily locating her debit card in her nice, new Tory Burch wallet.