Famous Resolutions for the Coming Year

This list was penned by the great Woody Guthrie in 1942 at the tender-but-just-wise-enough age of 30, is an absolute gem of humor, earnestness, and pure humanity. He was a professional poet and singing of the poems he wrote. So, why would I try to compete against him?

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. Wear clean clothes – look good

10. Shine shoes

11. Change socks

12. Change bed cloths often

13. Read lots 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 good

26. Dance better

27. Help win war – beat fascism

28. Love mama

29. Love papa

30. Love Pete

31. Love everybody

32. Make up your mind

33. Wake up and fight

Commentary by an Internet Guy. (ANONYMOUS)

What's interesting is that the list doesn't map onto the Maslow hierarchy of needs in order, but does contain shuffled elements of its five tiers, perhaps validation for the universality of Maslow's insight into human psychology and aspiration – there is the physiological ("Wash teeth," "Shave," "Eat good"), the safety and security ("Bank all extra money," "Keep rancho clean"), the love and belonging ("Don't get lonesome", "Love mama," Love papa,", Love Pete [Seeger]", "Love everybody"), the esteem ("Wear clean clothes – look good", "Dance better"), and the self-actualization ("Work more and better", "Keep hoping machine running," "Play and sing good," "Make up your mind," "Wake up and fight").

Thank you, Woody, for a timeless list that still speaks to us all – yes, by all means, let's read lots of good books, keep hoping and dreaming, make up our minds, and love everybody. And, you know, bathe.

I would add:

34. Pray more

35. Play more

36. Find warm weather

37. Hug more

38. Talk slowly to friends

39. Love family as much as possible

40. Tell people I appreciate them

Gabe Sweeten wishing you all will be able to wash the teeth you have grown, bought and paid for or found somewhere.