John Curley


AP: ed1b141b-220a-4f42-914a-9449c35eb0e4
The iconic Seattle Space Needle is illuminated with fireworks as seen from inside the new Dale Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum's Glasshouse at the Seattle Center on Tuesday, January 1, 2013. This year, John Curley has two resolutions. (AP Photo/seattlepi.com, Joshua Trujillo)

It's not too late, take a tip from the John Curley school of New Year's resolutions

BY Alyssa Kleven  on January 2, 2013 @ 9:18 am (Updated: 11:16 am - 1/2/13 )

While some kissed their special someone at midnight, and then privately (or publicly) made a resolution for the New Year, it's not too late. You could even get inspired by John Curley's resolution philosophy.

"Starting in 1998 I decided I would make New Year's resolutions that I knew that I could keep, that would be fun and sort of frivolous, but it would remind me to take a lighter look at life."

It's supposed to be fun, but it's also supposed to be something that John believes he can accomplish for an entire year.

He kicked it off in 1998 when he resolved to put on one sock, then one shoe, followed by the other sock, and the other shoe. During the entirety of 1998, John claims he never put on sock-sock, shoe-shoe.

Over the years, the resolutions have helped John experience new things and people. One year, he resolved that during his trip to Costco, which he did about every two weeks, he would spend at least five minutes chatting with the sample person.

Another year, John decided he would eat a fish taco on days of the month that were prime numbers: 3, 5, 11, and so on.

"I'm not saying these are ingenious," John said on Seattle's Morning News as 2013 picked up steam on KIRO Radio.

His favorite resolution of all time, "always order the soup of the day." John would never ask what it was, and he would never order a bowl, only a cup. "I wish I could go back to that one."

Some resolutions were easier to keep than others. In 2000, John resolved to never pen his signature to a piece of paper. He made it until May, when he and his first wife were getting a divorce.

Sitting in a room with his now ex-wife and their attorneys, his lawyer asked him to sign and initial the documents.

He hesitated.

'Are you having second thoughts about making it work?' asked his attorney.

His ex-wife cleared it up, he was having second thoughts about breaking his New Year's resolution.

This year it will be easier to follow through with his resolution, which in 2013, comes in two parts: "Whenever I meet someone new, I ask them five question about themselves before I start talking about me." He's also going to stop lying to his dentist about flossing.

For John, it's about freshening things up, "except for the year I went without underwear."

Alyssa Kleven, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Alyssa Kleven is an editor and content producer at MyNorthwest.com. She enjoys doting over her adorable dachshund Winnie - named for Arcade Fire front-man Win Butler.
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Comments (7)


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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    And why I could go the next 40 years or more
    January 2, 2013 11:58 am
    Absolutely not giving a rip less!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Tracy White wrote...
    You cared enough to post....
    January 2, 2013 1:21 pm
    Who's the winner here?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    What does that even mean?
    January 2, 2013 2:01 pm
    Giving a "rip less"?

    Seriously, my mind is a sponge, and I want to learn... ;-)

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • boeingmarcus wrote...
    Curley
    January 2, 2013 3:51 pm
    I can't be the only one who thinks John makes up most of what he says. While I find him to be entertaining occasionally, I don't trust him, and think KIRO made a mistake changing the show in the morning.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    Perhaps he is emulating "Stripes"
    January 2, 2013 9:14 pm
    Nahhh. Who cares?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpitantso wrote...
    No draws(painties)
    January 3, 2013 5:31 am
    Really, John tells us more,philosophy how nasty are you? tell us next year
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • londot wrote...
    I wished I could have read this 20 years ago!!
    January 3, 2013 6:02 am
    I think John's list is hilarious but on another level ingenious and absolutely wonderful…maybe not the socks drill but the stopping and talking to the sample folks or asking a person 5 questions about them before talking about himself!!! Thats something I’d love to try!! Thanks John
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }