By the time I remembered to look, the clock read 12:01 a.m. Though only by a minute, I had missed the moment 2024 was left to history, and celebration rang out as the World ushered in 2025.
My thoughts were elsewhere as I stared out the windshield of a police cruiser into the darkness. I had drawn the short straw to work the overnight shift on New Year’s Eve. It had already proven to be a busy one, and our last complaint was stuck in my head.
It was a disorderly call that took us into the home of a young man who immediately challenged me to a high volume, chaotic screaming match which he quickly lost. Hours earlier, the young man had been the passenger of a vehicle involved in a high-speed chase that had ended in a serious crash.
He had been arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant at the crash site, was bailed out of jail and began arguing with family members upon returning home. Defeated, he broke down completely as I ordered him to sit down.
I pulled out a chair from the kitchen table, sat with him, then spent the next 15 minutes offering a friendly voice, kind words and a hand on the shoulder of a young man whose world was collapsing.
I could think of no better candidate for a fresh start, and some serious New Year’s resolutions.
As I again sat in the cruiser, I began to wonder what my resolutions should be for the new year.
Thoughts of my family immediately came to mind, and I resolved to be a better father, partner, provider and protector. I promised myself to eat healthier, exercise more and to lose a few pounds. Surely, I could be kinder, partake in more community-oriented activities and try to be a better version of myself.
But all those things seemed so cliché. Switching gears, I started brainstorming hunting and fishing resolutions that could make 2025 my best year ever outdoors.
For starters, I need to shake off some cynicism and pessimism. It’s easy to blame lack of success on scarcity of fish or game, property to hunt, places to fish or competition. I might have to work a little harder for those opportunities, but they are out there. I’ll be knocking on more doors this year, and walking a few extra miles upstream. To go along with that,
I need to remember success isn’t just about hooking a fish or bringing home an animal.
This year, I’ll try to keep our gear better organized. I’ll invest in some better-quality equipment, and sort through the unnecessary clutter to keep my stress levels down. Things we no longer need or don’t use can be discarded or given away to folks who might need them.
Hunting industries have pushed the latest and greatest for so long now, and I’m ready to get back to a simpler approach.
I need to spend far more time on the shooting range. A handful of rounds through my rifle a week before the season just doesn’t cut it. I don’t remember the last time I shot a clay pigeon with a shotgun. And my archery groups could improve tremendously with a focused, serious shooting regimen that includes more than broadside 20-yard shots on summer afternoons.
I am going to fish more. Not only that, but I need to fish more with my family and friends. There’s no excuse, and there are more fishing opportunities available in Maine than any of us could possibly exhaust.
I need to rekindle the excitement of pulling a 6-inch brook trout out of a tiny stream, and not be so focused on finding fish I can measure in pounds. And while it seems a stretch these days around here, if we ever have enough ice, I am going to set some Heritage traps.
I am going to stop comparing myself to others. Measuring my skills, prowess and success against others has cost me valuable enjoyment in recent years. I need to focus more on myself, control what I can and stop valuing what others think so heavily.
Our outdoor experiences should be what we want them to be, not what others think they should be.
And finally, I need to become more involved in the outdoors. I have taken from it for so many years, and it’s time to start giving back. I’m not sure what that might look like, but I’m looking forward to finding an avenue to improve the hunting and fishing space for everyone, not just myself.
I might even go find that young man this spring and see if he wants to wet a line. Maybe the outdoors can offer him a fresh start, and the tools he needs to make this year his best ever.
