Tomorrow is the first day of 2016, and we all know that after we eat the last slice of pecan pie and finish off the eggnog, it’s time to make our New Year’s resolutions list.

I’ve had highfalutin’ resolutions – lose weight, make myself into a likeable person – and I’ve had the meager resolutions – lose one pound and trim my toenails.

But I’m not one to tell you how to live your life. When I look back on mine, the missteps have far outnumbered the high jumps. I’ve stumbled and fallen more than I’ve run across the finish line with a ribbon on my chest.

So this year, my resolutions aren’t grandiose and they could be, in the words of Mary Poppins, pie-crust promises that are easily made and easily broken.

But they’re doable.

First, clean the hair out of our hair brushes.

I ignore that job until I can’t drag the brush through my hair. But the soap dispenser is right next to the sink, so excuse time is over.

Next, I’m going to match up all the socks in my sock drawer and throw out the ones that have no partner. Maybe they can find their “sole-mate” in the singles pile.

Maybe one of my resolutions should be to stop making stupid puns.

Back to the list. One of my resolutions is to clean out the vacuum cleaner bag. My husband cleans it out every single time, but I let the bag fill up so it feels like I’m dragging around a 250-pound critter instead of the vacuum cleaner.

This is one we did a couple of weeks ago, but I don’t think we quite finished the job – clean out the medicine cabinet. When our granddaughter needed some antibiotic cream for a cut, we pulled out the tube but realized it was out of date.

So we went through the medicine cabinet and it was embarrassing how many medications had expired. We looked at the U.S. Food and Drug Department’s website and found ways to dispose of medications and for the closest controlled substance public disposal locations for those that could be toxic in landfills.  

Now all of those resolutions are pretty much work, so I’ve got a few that won’t cost a dime and are actually fun.

First, I’d like to visit the butterfly garden at Seabourne Creek Park in Rosenberg again. Volunteers work year round on that garden, and it’s an easy stroll from the parking lot to the garden. There’s nothing like being surrounded by flowers and butterflies to make your worries disappear.

While I’m in Rosenberg, I’d like to stroll the downtown streets and visit the shops. It doesn’t cost a dime to window shop but I’d love to see what’s inside some of the stores.

Living as close as we do to Houston, there’s a lot of free activities I’ve shied away from, but 2016 seems like a great time to start.

There’s browsing through the eclectic vintage shops in Montrose and the pricey shops on Kirby. The underground tunnels in Houston sound fun, if I can just figure out how to get down there. And it doesn’t cost a dime to stop and listen to a street musician instead of hurrying past them.  

Personally, I’m going to apologize to the people I’ve angered. Whether or not I meant to cause harsh feelings doesn’t matter at this point – an apology is long overdue.

Apologizes don’t cost a dime but the rewards of clearing the slate last far beyond swallowing my pride and taking responsibility for my words and actions.

Happy New Year to you and yours and may 2016 be a happy one!

This column was originally published in The Fort Bend Herald.