The Two Exceptions That Prove The Rule

Day 83, Tuesday March 24, 8.30pm: My theory - that TRSNYRC is a real force for good and a real force for change - has lasted intact this far, despite the fact that I have not been able to convince everyone - that's everyone as in the world population of 6,895,313,008 (it will, I grant, have gone up a shade by the time that you read this) - to take an active part in my quietly ambitious social experiment of transforming the face of utterly everything forever and forever.
But then along came Gary and along came Daniel.
Gary is another Lindfield Primary house dad. We've stood within touching distance at school pick-up time for the best part of a year but only just got to conversing in the last few weeks.
Gary smokes. Gary knows he should give up. Excellent, says I. Join the TRSNYRC and you'll crack it in no time.
No, thanks awfully, says Gary. If it's all the same with you, I'd rather not.
You see, in the past few years he's gone through a liver and kidney transplant - if he hadn't had it he would have died within a matter of weeks, he's since learnt - a messy split with his wife and an ugly court custody battle over his young son. For good measure, he's even managed to give up drinking along the way.
Gary knows he should give up smoking. But, all things considered, he's not sure he's got the energy yet to make the break. He's happy to puff on for the moment.
Argue with that if you can.
Daniel's my cousin.
Unlike Gary, Daniel does not have a lot of problems and difficulties on his plate. Arguably, indeed, he doesn't have any at all.
Daniel is a transcendental meditation devotee. He does yoga each morning. He seeks a balanced life. He is as fit as fiddle, without an ounce of fat and walks up New Zealand mountains on his days off while contemplating his beautiful world.
It would be silly to ask him, surely, to make a New Year's resolution? He's been cleaning up his act for so long that grime is no longer an issue. There is not even a suggestion of a speck of the stuff left upon his person. What the heck would Daniel resolve that has not already been resolved and sorted?
Gary has too many problems for resolutions just now, and Daniel too few.
I take their points. I'm not sure I envy either of them, but I'm in serious awe of both.
PS The world population now stands at 6,895,325,752...