And this year, I promise to ...

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And this year, I promise to ...

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Saturday, 02 January 2010 01:51

Many of us either make resolutions for the new year or think about doing so. Here are some of our resolutions right off the bat: exercise more, spend more time with our children, clean out the garage and hold that yard sale, be more optimistic, be more willing to recognize our own weaknesses and to try to overcome them.
On a broader level, we resolve to better understand the natural world, use less energy, figure out what is the truth and what is fiction in the global warming debate, think more before we make a consumer purchase and treat our fellow humans with dignity and respect.
In regard to politics, we urge our readers and non-readers alike to be the squeaky wheel. Speak up when some government act doesn’t look right to you or you believe a public official made a decision not in your or your neighbor's best interests. You can write letters to the editor about issues you care about or problems left un-addressed by local government. You can also attend regular city or county meetings or town hall meetings hosted by elected officials.
Sure, we are in hard economic times, but you can still read and write – and listen. Don’t assume something; take the time to discover the facts.
We also urge residents who have the chance to become a volunteer in some way in their community. That could be at church, at a local organization or at a local club – helping others is one way to stop thinking about one's own situation.
On the lighter side, here are a few funny resolutions we’ve seen: I will stop yelling at inanimate objects; I will start eating oatmeal for breakfast to be healthier; I will think up new excuses for missing work; I’ll worry about the future instead of the past; and I will not procrastinate, starting next year.
In making resolutions, first ask what would make you happier. It might be having more fun with friends or more time for a hobby. It might be less of something – less nagging of your spouse, your children or your co-workers, for example.
Make a resolution that is easy to measure and thus easier to keep. And start small enough, so that you are not overwhelmed at the beginning.