A Christmas Carol

I have a hard time choosing favorites but I can tell you that A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is my favorite story no matter who tells it.

I didn’t read the book until I was an adult but it’s been my favorite movie since I was in my early teens. Yes, every version. The musical one with Albert Finney. Scrooge McDuck. Alaister Sim, Reginald Owen, Henry Winkler, Kelsey Grammer, George C, Scott, Patrick Stewart, Jim Carrey, Vincent Fegan…All the Scrooges.

Then we move into the modern interpretations with Bill Murray, Susan Lucci, Cicely Tyson, Vanessa Williams, Tori Spelling, Robert Guillaume and that one with Carrie Fisher who does not ply the Scrooge character but she’s awesome.

I own most of them and watch all of them.

Guess what? I cry at the end of all of them. They make me so happy.

And I commit to myself that I’m going to be better, more charitable, think moe of others, be kinder. All of the lessons the story is meant to teach I see them and I promise myself to improve.

Then by February I am slacking a little and November comes and I watch them again and make the same promises.

This year November came and I began to watch them all and I was disappointed in myself. That lasted for a little while this year but then I started to look back and I realized I am better than I was 5 years ago. Every year I decide to be better and I am a little better every year.

I bet you are too. A little better every year. That’s all we need to do. Tiny improvements. Small adjustments.

My point is, keep making resolutions because even if you don’t fully get there this year the small improvements make a big difference.