Now’s The Time - Be Resolute About It Resolved … Make That Change - Now

Fri., Dec. 29, 1995

By D.F. Oliveria daveo@spokesman.com (509) 319-0354

Look at yourself.

You’ve been in denial for years about that extra 20 pounds (which now really is 30). Life as a couch potato has made you as intellectually stimulating as extra-light popcorn. The most exciting thing you did in 1995 was speed through Colfax.

It’s time for a change.

And you’re not going to make much of one, bub, unless you take stock of yourself, resolve to … (travel, read more, weigh less, write letters) and post a list of resolutions somewhere. Without specific goals, you’re going to drift along until the Grim Reaper calls.

There’s no better time to make resolutions than the New Year’s holiday. Baby New Year provides us with a fresh start. When the glowing ball sinks in Times Square, the past 12 months of mistakes, heartache and worry officially become history. We have another year to get it right.

Our world would be a better place if everyone resolved on New Year’s Day to improve in some way.

We Americans, for example, would benefit if congressmen resolved to place country before party politics. If President Clinton resolved to quit fibbing. If GOP presidential candidates resolved to develop charisma (or at least a pulse). If each of us resolved to know the Constitution as well as we do the gag lines from recent episodes of “Seinfeld.”

Our communities would be better places if everyone resolved to get involved in them.

If we resolved to look out for our neighbor’s best interest rather than coveting his Bayliner or new Dodge Caravan. If we resolved to serve on school, city or county committees rather than gripe about the knuckleheads running our local governments. If we resolved to be part of the public debate by writing letters to the editor and speaking out at public forums rather than stewing.

Our families would be better if we resolved to love them as much as we do ourselves.

If we resolved to go to our son’s ballgames, even if he seems not to notice or care now. If we resolved to take our young daughters out to breakfast to find out what’s going on in their lives. If we resolved to cherish our mates and never let anyone come between us.

So, take a good inventory of yourself and resolve to change the things that need changing.

After all, nobody’s perfect.

, DataTimes MEMO: For opposing view, see headline: Resolve not to take the quick-fix route

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = EDITORIAL, COLUMN - From Both Sides

For opposing view, see headline: Resolve not to take the quick-fix route

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = EDITORIAL, COLUMN - From Both Sides

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