It’s time to start the annual debate about New Year’s resolutions, whether we’re for or against them.
I think some folks are so discouraged by past failures they swing all the way to the other side of the spectrum, denying and defying the notion that making resolutions is a good idea.
Others (myself included) stubbornly cling to that idea that a new page on the calendar carries with it some special kind of magic that will trigger our willpower and generate enough momentum to change habits that are holding us back or causing us harm.
Neither of these extremes are right (as is almost always the case with extremes of any kind, a lesson we seem reluctant to learn).
Here’s an idea that might create some middle ground from author and poet Salil Jha:
“For a change, don’t add new things in your life as a new year’s resolution. Instead, do more of what’s already working for you and stop doing things that are time-waste.” (sic)
That, of course, is going to require us to figure out what is and isn’t working for us, which brings me to the following admonition from author and blogger Richie Norton:
“Most people will passively do exactly what they did last year.Whatever you do, don’t let that person be you.”
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Remember the battle last year about the Colorado counties who wanted to remove requirements for publishing public notices in newspapers and just “put everything online?”
While doing some research on a state website last weekend, I came across yet another example why we can’t entrust all our information to government entities and the wonderful world of the “web.” While attempting to locate budget records and audits for local special districts and I kept getting this message:
“Local Government E-Filing Portal—System Down. The system is currently down. We apologize for the issue, and the appropriate person has been notified of the issue. Please try again at a later time. Sorry for the inconvenience!”
That was on Sunday. The “portal” has since been repaired, but two of the local special districts I was looking for haven’t had their records updated on the state site since 2007. I’m sure those districts have been audited since then, and I’m sure they’ve filed the requisite reports to the state, but the state hasn’t managed to update its own website. It’s yet another example why it’s important to continue to keep public notices printed in the newspaper for public review.
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Wishing you all a safe, healthy, happy and productive New Year.
By NIKI TURNER | [email protected]
