I rarely do New Year’s Resolutions, it seems too much of a chance to break promises. Today,a friend send me a list of the folk singer Woody Guthrie’s New Years Resolutions from 1943. I loved them and wanted to share them with you. Guthrie is a hero of mine. Three or four years ago, I visited the Woody Guthrie Museum in Tulsa.

I cried on the way out. His resolutions:

1. Work more and better.
2. Work by a schedule.
3. Wash teeth if any.
4. Shave.
5. Take bath.
6. Eat good – fruit, vegetables, milk.
7. Drink very scant if any.
8. Write a song a day.
9. 9. Wear clean clothes – look good.
10. Shine shoes.
11. Change socks.
12. Change bed clothes often.
13. Read lots of good books.
14. Listen to radio a lot.
15. Learn people better.
16. Keep rancho clean.
17. Don’t get lonesome.
18. Stay glad.
19. Keep hoping machine running.
20. Dream good.
21. Bank all extra money.
22. Save dough.
23. Have company but don’t waste time.
24. Send Mary and kids money.
25. Play and sing well.
26. Dance better.
27. Help win war –  beat fascism.
28. 28. Love mama.
29. Love papa.
30. Love Pete.
31. Love everybody.
32. Make up your mind.
33. Wake up and fight.