Baby steps instead of resolutions for 2011
by Dan Rzewnicki, Editor in Chief
December 20, 2010

As the Christmas and New Year holidays approach, I come to you not with a tired old message that Christmas has grown too commercial, but a message to take with you into the New Year.
When the New Year approaches, people begin to formulate a New Year’s resolution, yet nearly everyone who sets a New Year’s resolution doesn’t complete it or even attempt it.

My message is that a New Year’s resolution may not need to be as difficult as many think it should be. For instance, rather than saying that you want to lose 50 pounds this year or raise your GPA by a point, set a resolution that takes you down that road.

For example, start with eating healthier or studying for 20 minutes a night and let one good decision lead to another. Then, as you start to make better decisions, you can set higher bars and eventually reach the original goal.

Also in the New Year, it is important for everyone to “stop and smell the roses.” As I grow older, I see more and more people rushing from place to place to get every single second out of the day. Not that having the energy isn’t good, but many of my friends and peers find themselves drained after a long day of basketball practice, three hours at work, then an all-nighter to finish homework.

Prioritize. I am not saying to drop something you enjoy in order to have free time, but leave time for the important things in life. Drive more slowly on the way to the mall and enjoy the conversation with the person in the passenger seat rather than speed down Route 28 to make it to the 7 o’clock movie.

Spend more time with family and friends. Try to call off a day at work instead of missing out on the family dinner for a few extra dollars.

Lastly, take care of your body. Go to sleep after some of your homework is finished instead of staying up hours on end to finish a project. Take time to get medical checkups and get well. Work at school can wait and missing for a trip to the doctors is a far better idea than staying in school and feeling sick for weeks.

I am sure that anyone reading my holiday message at this point is sure that I am an old man, but I encourage everyone to at least give these ideas a try. Play another game of basketball with friends rather than rush home to do homework. Stop texting and checking your phone every couple of minutes when you’re already with friends or family. Appreciate their company instead. And order dessert at the restaurant and enjoy a conversation with real company rather than rush off to the check out the sales at the mall or creep a few hours on Facebook.

Try it out. Maybe you will find yourself happier in the New Year.