With both the Y2K worries and the real beginning of the millennium (2001) behind us, and with the cataclysmic events of September 11th still fresh in our memories, what better time for a return to traditional New Year's fare? I'm referring, of course, to retrospectives, outlooks, and resolutions.

Then again, what better time to question this fare, and rebel against tradition?

The pundits will attempt to summarize the events of the year, and explain them all to us. In gaining understanding, we will learn from the mistakes of history, and not repeat them--or so it is said. More often than not, however, this is but an empty cliche. Exactly what were the lessons of September 11th?

That we should prepare for multiple suicidal perps brandishing unconventional weapons, who might commandeer public conveyances for horribly destructive purposes? Does this mean that we should now institute boarding security for all bus passengers, since surely many perps commandeering many buses could crash them into petroleum refinery reactors with disastrous results? Perhaps it means that we should guard against an army of explosives-wearing criminals taking over all the elevators in several high-rise buildings. Either of those scenarios would be far easier to achieve for the conspirators, and would create far more devastation and on-going fear than did the September 11th hijackings.

Go ahead. Rack your brain for a lesson. The only thing I could come up with is that there is unspeakable evil in this world, and short of defending ourselves when challenged, and being prepared to die if we must, there IS no lesson. No amount of security will ever foil all attempts to breach it, and even if it could, living under such a structure would be intolerable.

While we're at it, precisely what was the lesson of Neville Chamberlain's Munich appeasement? That Britain should have entered the war earlier and even less prepared than it was in September, 1939? Or was it that Britain should have immediately listened to the bellicose Winston Churchill, infamous for his bloody debacle of Gallipoli--but then what would have been the lesson of Gallipoli? And how does all this square with the lessons of World War I?

What about outlooks, the prognostications of experts? How's your mutual fund doing these days? It's easy to be an expert when the market is going nowhere but up, isn't it? Who needs a fund manager to lose money on your behalf? You could probably have done that all by yourself. Did anyone predict that gasoline prices would have DROPPED during an unprecedented national emergency?

In short, all the experts have that you don't have (as the Wizard of Oz might have put it) is the bully pulpit. That, and the advantage of a gullible, self-doubting public. Next time, rely on your own judgment. Heck, you could be right.

As for resolutions, why be a slave to convention and start them on January 1st? If you want to improve yourself, implement the program as soon as you can! Otherwise, you risk being taken up into the great escapist fad of New Year's resolutions, few of which are ever kept. Just think, if you resolve to lose weight on August 1st and don't, your failure would be so much more inconspicuous.

Nearly all health clubs get extremely busy in January, but within six weeks, the attendance numbers are back to normal. Since these clubs are based on 100 percent of the members paying dues, and only about 10-15 percent actually using the facilities, it's a good thing!

Here are my suggestions for the New Year:

Ignore the experts. Listen instead to that voice deep inside. Whatever you believe in your heart needs to be improved will very likely be improved. Have faith in God, and enjoy the many pleasures that still exist in this world, no matter how cruel it may be.

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