Now here is a quotation to inspire all who are making new year’s resolutions at this time.

Until one is committed
there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back,
always ineffectiveness.
Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation),
there is one elementary truth,
the ignorance of which kills
countless ideas and splendid plans:
that the moment one definitely commits oneself,
then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one
that would never otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one’s favour all manner of
unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance,
which no man could have dreamt
would have come his way.

I have learned a deep
respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”

from W. H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition (J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd., 1951) – hat tip to Tom Dotz for this one.