They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. I don’t personally know about Hell, but I can say that Hubs and I had the very best of intensions when we committed to having a date night once a week. Note that I said committed - we did not make a New Year’s Resolution because in our experience they only last until about mid-January, then you break them.

Unfortunately, we have not gotten off to a very good start - the first step down that slippery road perhaps? Well probably not, but still a bit of a downer when you consider that our first date night was pretty spectacular (at least until the snoring started). Then the following week Hubs had the Man Flu and date night was spent with me playing nursemaid to him (which could actually have been quite fun if he hadn’t been feeling so miserable).

Now this week I was sick (plus hubs was still recovering - after all, he didn’t have any ordinary flu - he had MAN FLU).

So we decided to forgo date night… AGAIN. For those of you keeping score, we’ve managed to have exactly one date night in 2008.

Yes folks, it’s starting to feel like a Resolution!

Many bloggers have focused on New Years resolutions (I have too) and it got me thinking… why are they so bloody difficult to keep?

I turned to google and found a throng of opinions. The majority agree that the key to making any permanent change is repetition - finding a way to make the new behavior a habit.

I won’t bore you with every article here. Instead I’ll highlight one of the more interesting - an excerpt from the Self Magazine article titled “Say Yes! to Sex.” where Steve Pavlina suggests you can apply his 30-day trial technique to turn “physical intimacy into a habit”.

He proposes “Every day for the next 30 days, devote 30-60 minutes to talking, snuggling, cuddling, massage, and of course, sex with your partner… That time becomes sacred couple-intimacy time with no interruptions. The commitment to spend time alone together every day for 30 days will create the space for your sex life to blossom.”

This isn’t the hottest spin on getting more S-E-X but isn’t getting more what really matters? We can argue that there isn’t an extra second in the day but how can we expect to get more couple time if we don’t take some action?

I’m intrigued and wouldn’t have thought of approaching more “us” time as a 30-day trial. While Hubs and I aren’t at 30-60 minutes yet, our commitment to a weekly Date Night is a start.

And you? Are you up for the 30-days-to-more-intimacy trial with your Honey?

As I’ve said before, I don’t intend to make New Year’s resolutions this year. I have made one very serious commitment to myself which seems so much stronger than a resolution. But I think that’s because I tend to view resolutions as wish list items in my life. The “wouldn’t it be nice if” things that I can’t seem to get serious enough about to really make any progress.

I was chatting about this with Hubs last night and the conversation got around to the whole concept of the things in life you’d like to be different and things you need to be different. We had a whole list going and one of the toppers for our need side was more couple time together.

We’re both pretty good at getting time out with our friends - I favor martinis with the girls, he prefers whichever adrenaline/ adventure sport happens to be in season with the guys. We also have our social time with other couples (plus or minus our kids) but it’s a rare thing for us to have a “Date Night”.

So, that’s the new commitment we’ve made to each other. Come hell or high water - rain, sleet, or snow - tempers or tantrums - we are setting aside one precious night each week to go out as a couple… on a Date… one that will (hopefully) involve some exciting tongue action - an uninterrupted conversation, perhaps?

The very idea has me jittery and absolutely quivering with anticipation. So tonight’s the night. Our first official Date of 2008.

Details to come…

This year I am NOT making any resolutions about losing weight, getting in shape or drinking less wine.

In fact, I don’t even believe in making resolutions for the New Year because I know that by mid-January all those good intensions will have gone the way of the jackalope.

But I am making one commitment to myself that I do intend to keep. By the end of 2008 (and as soon as possible), I will have quit my job and will be gainfully employed doing something that lifts my spirit and feeds my soul.

WooHoo! Just writing that gives me goosebumps. There is something so powerful about making a commitment for all the world to see.

It’s also a bit scary. But if Paul Potts can follow his dreams and go from being a cell phone salesman to an International Opera Star, and the highest selling International Artist of 2007 (so far), then I can do it too.

And if you haven’t already seen it, here is his initial appearance on a show called “Britain’s Got Talent”. He went on to win the show. Get out your kleenex!

Paul, you are my hero! Kudos to you.