New year. A good time to contemplate the breadth of meaning in the word “resolution.”

Resolution as focus. To sharpen an image or to allow it to maintain soft outlines.

Resolution as decision: be it resolved that young boys shall no longer be required to push hair out of their eyes, no matter how charming their curls may be.

Resolution in the sense of separating a solution into its component parts. It is necessary to resolve the particulates from cider before bottling.

The chemists out there may complain that lees form a suspension rather than a solution, and a true resolution would require freezing the cider to extract the alcohol, thus making applejack. We are taking the soft focus on this one.

Resolution as a plan of action. I really need to wash the windows that look out onto the duck pasture. The birds will be able to peek in at me as I exercise and I will be able to enjoy their curious presence. The exercises happen by necessity: I would cease to be able to move were I to stop moving. The window cleaning is a luxury.

Resolution as the solving of a problem. I need to make a baby blanket, but I didn’t care for the earth-toned yarn I had. I found that pairing it with other similarly patterned yarn and knitting in the round solved my problem. This is still a work in progress, but it is beginning to look like a stained glass window.

Resolution as bravery: hosting Christmas involving 3 year olds requires a certain fortitude. Having children in the first place is an act of bravery and optimism. They bring change, uncertainty, and the most joy ever.