[by Alex Epstein] Every New Year's Eve millions of people make New Year's resolutions. Whether the resolution is to get out of debt, to spend more time with loved ones, or to quit smoking, these resolutions have one thing in common: they are goals to make our lives better.

Unfortunately, this ritual commitment to self-improvement is widely viewed as something of a joke--in part because New Year's resolutions go so notoriously unmet. After years of watching others--or themselves--excitedly commit to a new goal, only to abandon the quest by March, many come to conclude that New Year's resolutions are an exercise in futility that should not be taken seriously. "The silly season is upon us," writes a columnist for the Washington Post, "when people feel compelled to remake themselves with new year's resolutions."

But such a cynical attitude is false and self-destructive. Making New Year's resolutions does not have to be futile--and to make them is not silly; done seriously, it is an act of profound moral significance that embodies the essence of a life well-lived.

Consider what we do when we make a New Year's resolution: we look at where we are in some area of life, think about where we want to be, and then set ourselves a goal to get there. We are tired of feeling chubby and lethargic, say, and want the improved appearance and greater energy level that comes with greater fitness. So we resolve to take up a fun athletic activity--like tennis or a martial art--and plan to do it three times a week.

Is this a laughable act of self-delusion? Hardly. If it were, then how would anyone ever achieve anything in life? In fact, to make a New Year's resolution is to recognize the undeniable reality that successful goal-pursuit is possible--the reality that everyone at one time or another has set and achieved long-range goals, and profited from doing so. Indeed, not only is it possible to achieve long-range goals, it is necessary for success in life. To make a New Year's resolution is also to recognize the undeniable reality that rewarding careers and romances do not just happen automatically--that to get what we want in our lives, we must consciously choose and achieve the right goals. We must be goal-directed.

Unfortunately, a goal-directed orientation is missing to a large extent in too many lives. It is all too easy to live life passively, acting without carefully deciding what one is doing with one's life and why. How many people do you know who are in the career they fell into out of school, even if it is not very satisfying--or who have children at a certain age because that's what is expected, even if it's not what they really want--or who spend endless hours of "free time" in front of the TV, since that's the most readily available form of relaxation--or who follow a life routine that they never really chose and don't truly enjoy, but which has the force of habit?

Too often, the goal-directedness embodied by New Year's resolutions is the exception in lives ruled by passively accepted forces--unexamined routine, short-range desires, or alleged duties. It is the passive approach to happiness that makes so many resolutions peter out, lost in the shuffle of life or abandoned due to lost motivation. More broadly than its impact on New Year's resolutions, the passive approach to happiness is the reason that so many go through life without ever getting--or even knowing--what they really want.

It is a sad irony that those who write off New Year's resolutions because so many fail reinforces the passive approach to life that causes so many resolutions--and so many other dreams--to fail. The solution to failed New Year's resolutions is not to abandon the practice, but to supplement it with a broader resolution--a commitment to a goal-directed life.

This New Year's, resolve to think about how to make your life better, not just once a year, but every day. Resolve to set goals, not just in one or two aspects of life, but in every important aspect and in your life as a whole. Resolve to pursue the goals that will make you successful and happy, not as the exception in a life of passivity, but as the rule that becomes second-nature.

If you do this, you will be resolving to do the most important thing of all: to take your happiness seriously.

© 2008 Ayn Rand® Institute.

Alex Epstein is a writer for the Ayn Rand Institute (www.aynrand.org) in Irvine, California. Visit his website at www.AlexEpstein.com.

Grand Bahama Children's Home Christmas Wish List
Our goal each year is to fill our local orphans' stockings with a little
something that SANTA brought - from their list, at least one. The joy it brings
them is immense and the realization that SANTA has heard them is
tremendous. Help keep our children safe, clothed, fed and sometimes just like
every kid in the world. You can view the list at:
http://www.gbchildrenshome.com/2008-wishlist.htm

Bahamas Cup: More Photos from Freeport’s Epic Victory over The Cuckoos
In case you missed THE BEST RUGBY GAME of the 2008 season, Rugby Photos from the
Freeport 25 - Cuckoos 22 Victory are now online.

RE Properties Builds Green Luxury Homes to LEED Standards
In Florida, the proprietors of RE Properties Ltd. -- Alan and Dexter Avney --
are known for their "over the top" luxurious and energy efficient design. Now
they plan to bring their technology to the Bahamas, as the duo of father and son
plan to revolutionize the building industry in Grand Bahama… [read
more]

Live Music at Bell Channel Inn Bar & Restaurant (Friday, December 19, 2008)
Bell Channel Inn 373-1053 From 8 p.m. until Bell Channel Inn will have live
music in our restaurant at Bell Channel Inn. Featuring many of your pop and rock
favorites from the 60s through the late 70s.

Come Watch the Dolphins at Sandbar Margarita Villa (Sunday, December 21,
2008)
Come join Lauren and Jinx and cheer for (or root against) the Miami Dolphins
every Sunday.

Carols by the Sea: Eat, Drink and Be Merry! (Sunday, December 21st 2008, 4–9
p.m)
The Rotary Club of Lucaya is hosting its second annual Carols by the Sea,
which last year was truly a resounding success. The event will take place at The
Ritz by Taino Beach Resort. The event is being organized to address the need for
families to gather in the spirit of Christmas. We want families to come out,
sing carols, eat, drink and be merry. As the holidays approach we want to help
people get in the mood for Christmas and nothing does that better than singing
carols around the fireplace - and here in The Bahamas a bonfire on the beach is
just as good. Rotarian Joe Ret will hand roast his famous pig for all to enjoy.
There will be hamburgers, hot dogs and popcorn for the children. The Rotary Club
of Lucaya Choir will be entertaining you, there will also be an open microphone,
and song books will be distributed for those persons who want to sing along.
Santa Claus will pay a special visit to sing and dance with the children.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children and can be purchased from Bell
Channel Inn (373-1053), The Cutting Garden (374-5600) or any member of the
Rotary Club of Lucaya.

Sunset Happy Hour @ Sabor: 5-7pm every day!
Chef “Worly” is back from producing his TV show in Iceland, and to celebrate he
is offering some crazy drink specials and some new food items at reduced prices.
Happy hour drink specials include 2 for $6 Beer, 2 for 1 mixed drinks (incl.
margaritas and martinis). Along with a new staff they also have an all new
“simplified” regular menu with entree prices ranging from $14 to $22.


New Years Eve Bash @ Taino by the Sea Restaurant (Wednesday, December 31, 2008)
Natalie Koll-Sykes has an amazing deal set up at Taino By The Sea Restaurant
featuring: Appetizer: Cold stone crab with spicy mustard sauce or Jumbo shrimp
cocktail. Salad: Boston bib lettuce with asparagus spears and cherry tomatoes.
Soup: Lobster Bisque au sherry or Consommé Celestine. Entrée: Roast leg of lamb
with braised garlic, sherry and thyme served with parsley potatoes, or
Tenderloin of beef, vegetable Bouquetiere, sauce Béarnaise, or Broiled Bahamian
Lobster tail with lemon butter and seasonal vegetables; Dessert: Cherries
Jubilee. One bottle Sparkling per couple. Beach Bonfire, D.J. Unkle Sam, Party
favors. $88 per person gratuity included. Purchase tickets in advance, limited
seating. Indoor or Outdoor dining. Dinner:8:30pm-10:30pm. After party 10:30pm–
until. Jolly Roger Drive, Freeport Grand Bahama. (242) 373-4677 ext 2215. P.S.
Taino By The Sea also have awesome lunch and dinner specials throughout the week
so check them out!

New Years Eve @ Lucianos (Wednesday, December 31, 2008)
Enjoy a classic sit down menu from the fine Chefs at Luciano's restaurant while
overlooking the New Year's festivities at Port Lucaya Square. $140+15% per
person. Book your reservations now as this event always sells out.

New Years Eve Party @ Sabor (Wednesday, December 31, 2008, 8:30 pm - 1 am)
A sizzling hot New Year's Party at Sabor Restaurant with Open Bar and
sensational food for $99 per person (incl. grat). Celebrate in style with a
relaxed and elegant poolside party at Sabor Restaurant at the Pelican Bay Hotel.
The hottest and coolest bite-size plates of fresh gourmet delights will await
you at poolside food stations featuring wood-burning barbecue, fresh oysters,
seafood, ceviche, Asian specialties, and a variety of epicurean taste treats
inspired by the world's finest cuisines, all with a tropical twist. The
incredible ticket price of $99 per person also includes a full open bar, along
with Sabor's signature Martini Bar specialties, Mojitos, and all your favorite
cocktails. Music, dancing, and hot flambé desserts under the stars will add
extra sparkle to your New Year's fun.

BIMINI, Bahamas – This winter season may seem frigid all around but Bimini Bay Resort’s Air Hop promotion is the answer to a perfect holiday getaway complete with all the trimmings. The Air Hop Package features complimentary private airfare for two when booking a four-night stay at Bimini Bay Resort. Situated just 48 miles off the coast of South Florida, this Bahamian getaway is 25 minutes by air from Fort Lauderdale.

Available from now through March 31, 2009, the Air Hop package is priced at $1,600 (based on double) and provides guests with a four-night stay in a two-story Treehouse villa, two complimentary air hops from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini (a $600 value) and daily breakfast for two. The retail value of this package is $2,340* providing a savings of nearly 30 percent.

Bimini Bay’s signature Treehouse villa experience offers beautiful water views and is furnished with king-size beds, spacious living and dining room areas and two private bathrooms. Complimentary private air hop via Gold Aviation/Dolphin Atlantic departs out of Sheltair Aviation located on the west side of the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. For flight schedules, call the resort’s corporate office at (305) 513-0501 and ask for the flight department.

Bimini Bay Resort offers an array of first-class amenities for its guests including two pools, three restaurants, massage services and the largest marina in the Bahamas. Guests may also enjoy a stroll through fisherman’s Village, home to John Bull Jewelers, two clothing boutiques, casual dining and an activity center. Non-motorized water sports are available on site.

To book the air hop, please call (242) 347-2900 or call your travel agent and mention air hop promotion.