Woody Guthrie’s new year’s resolutions

I’m lazy with resolutions. I give myself until the end of January to sort out exceptional goals for the new year. In studying what reseachers say works best, I stumbled across this list.

Apparently Woody Guthrie, one of my heroes, had a different problem. He didn’t seem to do too well with setting clear priorities. He lists 33 things for the year of 1942. Inspiring given the results, nevertheless.

Guthrie’s new years resolutions (from the official site), 1942:

Work more and better
Work by a schedule
wash teeth if any
shave
take bath
eat good – fruit – vegetables – milk
drink very scant if any
write a song a day
wear clean clothes – look good
Shine shoes
Change socks
Change bed clothes often
Read lots good books
Listen to radio a lot
Learn people better
Keep rancho clean
Don’t get lonesome
Stay glad
Keep hoping machine running
Dream good
Bank all extra money
Save Dough
Have company but don’t waste time
Send Mary and kids money
Play and sing good
Dance Better
Hep win war – beat fascism
Love Mama
Love Papa
Love Pete
Love Everybody
Make up your mind
Wake up and Fight

Also see: New years resolutions that work

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12 Comments » | Posted Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 3:43 am in lifehack

12 thoughts on “Woody Guthrie’s new year’s resolutions”

Deborah Samilton - May 29, 2011 at 5:50 pm #

#1 WORK MORE AND BETTER:)

Deborah Samilton - May 27, 2011 at 12:48 pm #

MR.GUTHRIE KNEW WHO HE WAS. KNOWING IS UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF WHO I AM OR WHO YOU ARE: YOUR COGNITIVE ABILITY TO RELATE TO EMOTIONS,AND TRY TO CREATE A PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT: TO LIVE AND LET LIVE; TO KNOW YOURSELF….WOW #33:)

Simon - April 30, 2010 at 9:01 am #

Interesting resolution not to get “lonesome”.

I like the fact that Guthrie saw the importance of routine in his work that he felt the need to write a song each day, rather than wait for inspiration.

Interesting to see that “Wake up and Fight” is his last resolution, rather than his first.

Michal - February 4, 2010 at 3:53 am #

Soooo… What resolution(s) did *you* settle on?

melissa bernardi - January 26, 2010 at 6:19 pm #

Just the most beautiful thing. It has been an entertaining day reading what my friends chose as theirs.

Joe - January 25, 2010 at 5:05 pm #

I think #29 says “Love Papa”

Joel D Canfield - January 25, 2010 at 1:11 pm #

#33 is the hardest, I think.

As a self-declared epileptic rhino on the dance floor, I understand #26, but just don’t think a year is enough time.

Oscar - January 25, 2010 at 10:57 am #

Wow, that’s a simple list. Very cool that you posted this. I like #3. Wash teeth… if any.

#31 is good too and #33.

#8 would be good for us bloggers… write a blogpost a day.

Andreas Scherer - January 25, 2010 at 5:59 am #

Item 27: I certainly shall not bear fascism! I’d rather help win the war.

Dwayne Phillips - January 25, 2010 at 5:36 am #

Precious. Another wonderful example of what a journal or notebook can do for people – including yourself – even decades later.

Deborah Samilton - May 29, 2011 at 5:50 pm #
#1 WORK MORE AND BETTER:)

Deborah Samilton - May 27, 2011 at 12:48 pm #
MR.GUTHRIE KNEW WHO HE WAS. KNOWING IS UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF WHO I AM OR WHO YOU ARE: YOUR COGNITIVE ABILITY TO RELATE TO EMOTIONS,AND TRY TO CREATE A PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT: TO LIVE AND LET LIVE; TO KNOW YOURSELF….WOW #33:)

Simon - April 30, 2010 at 9:01 am #
Interesting resolution not to get “lonesome”.

I like the fact that Guthrie saw the importance of routine in his work that he felt the need to write a song each day, rather than wait for inspiration.

Interesting to see that “Wake up and Fight” is his last resolution, rather than his first.

Michal - February 4, 2010 at 3:53 am #
Soooo… What resolution(s) did *you* settle on?

Pingback: kip/bot/blog » Links: Google and Stupidity, iPad, New Years

melissa bernardi - January 26, 2010 at 6:19 pm #
Just the most beautiful thing. It has been an entertaining day reading what my friends chose as theirs.

Pingback: Even Woody Guthrie had New Year’s Resolutions « The Robot Co-op

Joe - January 25, 2010 at 5:05 pm #
I think #29 says “Love Papa”

Joel D Canfield - January 25, 2010 at 1:11 pm #
#33 is the hardest, I think.

As a self-declared epileptic rhino on the dance floor, I understand #26, but just don’t think a year is enough time.

Oscar - January 25, 2010 at 10:57 am #
Wow, that’s a simple list. Very cool that you posted this. I like #3. Wash teeth… if any.

#31 is good too and #33.

#8 would be good for us bloggers… write a blogpost a day.

Andreas Scherer - January 25, 2010 at 5:59 am #
Item 27: I certainly shall not bear fascism! I’d rather help win the war.

Dwayne Phillips - January 25, 2010 at 5:36 am #
Precious. Another wonderful example of what a journal or notebook can do for people – including yourself – even decades later.