It’s mighty hard to believe this is the final column of 2019. Every year, we resolve to be a different person starting on Jan. 1. But why wait until the new year takes hold to begin making positive changes? This year, challenge yourself to end the year strong, rather than pitting your personal development on a vague point far in the future (“next year”).
There’s still enough time left to turn this year around – or at least to finish it strong. So here’s to a list of early resolutions.
1. Donate 25 personal belongings. It matters not whether the items are clothing, books, pieces of furniture, linens, and so forth; donate them to a cause close to your heart. (If we do this before Dec. 31, it becomes a tax deduction assuming we itemize.) By the way – and do as I say and not as I do – each time this next year when you buy an article of clothing, get rid of something already in the closet.
2. List the 12 best points you accomplished in 2019. It’s almost impossible to think of something positive accomplished for every week, much less for 365 days. On the other hand, 12 is a small enough number and especially by the month, we should be able to come up with a short list of personal triumphs. It could be as significant as giving $500 to your place of worship in April or as little as babysitting your little monster nephew in October while Sister goes for a much-needed massage. And, hey – if you can think of more than 12, that’s great news that deserves to be added to your compulsory chart.
3. List five to eight “jobs” you wish you’d done this year… but didn’t. Make a record of what you meant to accomplish this year, but never got around to. Again, these can range from considerably down the ladder to small. For example, Doctor Doofus told you to lose 10 pounds because of elevated blood pressure; instead, you gained 10 more! Or maybe nephew Teddy Terrible acted so “terribly” when you babysat that you spanked him with a flyswatter, then bribed the little terror not to tell Big Sis.