Well, by the time you read this, the whole of social media will be filled with the “New Year, New Me” mantra of meaningless drivel and excess that is so common to this time of year. Yeah, I know I sound grumpy, but after nearly 50 years of listening to this drivel I have a few things I want to get off my chest.

1. I don’t care if you have 10 to 100 pounds you want to lose. Just don’t throw the Little Debbie wrappers you’re sneaking from your spouse out the window of your car while riding down the road. No diet Coke bottles and, for the love of Mike, no burger wrappers or fry bags either. I’m glad you figured out the Chick-fil-A app, but I don’t want to see the mac n cheese bowl on the side of 44. Clean up after yourself!

2. If the boat ramp is hopping, the boat ramp is not the place to get your tackle organized! Get the boat in the water and get out of the way! It’s not rocket science. After all, the purpose of this area is to launch your watercraft. My dad taught me this when I was young, so by the age of 12 I could help him at the boat ramp. Get with it and get out of the way! I don’t even care if you keep your headlights on. The ramp just needs to be clear! And if you can’t back up a boat and launch it properly — hey, get with the guides around here or contact me. For a fee we will teach you to do this stuff.

3. We all need to get in better shape, but honestly does this mean following each other around on the water, trying to steal spots all day. Seriously, go get your exercise at the gym, not by running after other fishmen. I don’t even try to hide, but when I fish with buddies and well-known tournament anglers I see this behavior way too much. Find your own spots. Also, don’t run into other people’s drifts on the flats, don’t cut off the guy trolling, don’t run in on the small pocket that the lone fisherman is flipping docks in. Be decent humans and find your own spots.

4. I’m going to practice more self-love this year. It’s about me now and not about others! Honestly, I don’t even know what this means. Life ain’t about you. Take a kid hunting or fishing. If you don’t have kids or grandkids, take a neighbor kid, a niece, or a nephew. You know why we should all do that? Because we were all once that kid. Do something nice for people. It’s not about karma or cosmic good or putting positive energy out. It’s about being a decent person. Help that stranded mother change a tire. Put the grocery buggy up for that widowed lady at Ingles. Spend some time talking with that old gentleman in the gas station drinking coffee by himself.

5. Put down the phone. I’m positive that even if you are uglier than a mud pie your family would rather see you than that phone case. Kids and adults. If you are outside, enjoy it! There’s nothing punchy or funny after this. I’m serious. Let’s all invest a little time putting the phones away and engaging with each other like it’s the 1990s again. No social media, no zoom calls, no texting. I challenge all of you to spend a couple of quality hours a week with your families and friends without the phones. Why? Because life is what is going on around us right now, not what is happening online. One day that person won’t be here, and we will wish we had this time back. So be present in the moment with them. Be there.

Thank you for allowing me into your homes for another year. May you all have a blessed and wonderful 2024! Tight lines and following seas y’all!

—Outdoors columnist James Pressley can be reached at jameskpressley@gmail.com .