Another new year is upon us, and it's once again a time to start thinking about those ever present resolutions we make each and every year. I always set goals that end up being totally unrealistic and then I spend January and February feeling depressed about the whole thing. I've since learned that what you need to do is to make more realistic goals. Instead of trying to do things that seem like running a marathon, I need to set more realistic, doable goals, things I can do in small increments each day. Right now, I'd love to lose 20 pounds, but I can't hope to do that in one fell swoop. That's going to have to come in small achievements, if only a pound or so a week if I can even manage that much. It's going to be hard at my age to lose any amount of weight, but I know it can be done. I also want to clean up my incredibly dirty and cluttered apartment, but again, rather than try to do that all at once, it's going to have to be done little by little. I've got to try not to feel overwhelmed by the tasks I set before myself. I just have to sit down and maybe even make a "to do" list for each day so that when I do accomplish something on there I will feel good about having done that and it will encourage me to keep going. Setting more realistically doable goals will be my resolution this year. No more trying to think too big. It's time to do things incrementally, one small step at a time. Christmas is over now and I can start thinking ahead to the new year about what I can do and what I'd like to do if conditions allow.
It's also one more year toward retirement, which I hope to be able to do either in mid-2013 or more likely, at the end of 2013, depending on what happens with our state budget situation. I hope that the the new incoming Republican administration and legislature don't decide to shutter Ohio's public libraries in their efforts to balance the state budget. I know that our state is facing an $8 billion shortfall and that the incoming Governor-elect has basically stated that everything's on the table. My fear is that things that add to our quality of life in Ohio like state parks, libraries, cultural institutions and other things that Republicans basically seem to regard as "non-essential" are going to be on the chopping block. They don't regard these things as job creators so they tend to cut those things first. And now there is talk of drilling for oil and gas in state parks, which I find mortifying to consider. Sure, we do need fossil fuels to run vehicles, heat homes and buildings and all that stuff, but we should instead be investing in the green energy economy. That is what will bring jobs to Ohio, not depending on 20th century solutions to 21st century problems. But my fear is that the incoming Republicans will want to turn back the clock and will refuse to consider clean, green, renewable energy in favor of oil and gas exploration and drilling. But to do so in our scenic state parks and risk polluting them or doing irreparable damage to our natural resources seems penny wise and pound foolish. Never count on those folks to do the right thing. They want to favor big business over the ordinary person. My fear is that they will turn this state backward instead of moving it forward into the 21st century and moving us toward clean energy solutions that will bring good high paying jobs to Ohio that cannot be offshored or outsourced. I guess we'll see what happens as the new year unfolds and the new legislators come into Columbus. May my fears be overblown, and may this new year find Ohio and the nation moving forward into a future of green renewable energy, sound spending decisions and the doors of libraries kept open for the people to enjoy. We can only hope.
Another new year is upon us, and it's once again a time to start thinking about those ever present resolutions we make each and every year. I always set goals that end up being totally unrealistic and then I spend January and February feeling depressed about the whole thing. I've since learned that what you need to do is to make more realistic goals. Instead of trying to do things that seem like running a marathon, I need to set more realistic, doable goals, things I can do in small increments each day. Right now, I'd love to lose 20 pounds, but I can't hope to do that in one fell swoop. That's going to have to come in small achievements, if only a pound or so a week if I can even manage that much. It's going to be hard at my age to lose any amount of weight, but I know it can be done. I also want to clean up my incredibly dirty and cluttered apartment, but again, rather than try to do that all at once, it's going to have to be done little by little. I've got to try not to feel overwhelmed by the tasks I set before myself. I just have to sit down and maybe even make a "to do" list for each day so that when I do accomplish something on there I will feel good about having done that and it will encourage me to keep going. Setting more realistically doable goals will be my resolution this year. No more trying to think too big. It's time to do things incrementally, one small step at a time. Christmas is over now and I can start thinking ahead to the new year about what I can do and what I'd like to do if conditions allow.
It's also one more year toward retirement, which I hope to be able to do either in mid-2013 or more likely, at the end of 2013, depending on what happens with our state budget situation. I hope that the the new incoming Republican administration and legislature don't decide to shutter Ohio's public libraries in their efforts to balance the state budget. I know that our state is facing an $8 billion shortfall and that the incoming Governor-elect has basically stated that everything's on the table. My fear is that things that add to our quality of life in Ohio like state parks, libraries, cultural institutions and other things that Republicans basically seem to regard as "non-essential" are going to be on the chopping block. They don't regard these things as job creators so they tend to cut those things first. And now there is talk of drilling for oil and gas in state parks, which I find mortifying to consider. Sure, we do need fossil fuels to run vehicles, heat homes and buildings and all that stuff, but we should instead be investing in the green energy economy. That is what will bring jobs to Ohio, not depending on 20th century solutions to 21st century problems. But my fear is that the incoming Republicans will want to turn back the clock and will refuse to consider clean, green, renewable energy in favor of oil and gas exploration and drilling. But to do so in our scenic state parks and risk polluting them or doing irreparable damage to our natural resources seems penny wise and pound foolish. Never count on those folks to do the right thing. They want to favor big business over the ordinary person. My fear is that they will turn this state backward instead of moving it forward into the 21st century and moving us toward clean energy solutions that will bring good high paying jobs to Ohio that cannot be offshored or outsourced. I guess we'll see what happens as the new year unfolds and the new legislators come into Columbus. May my fears be overblown, and may this new year find Ohio and the nation moving forward into a future of green renewable energy, sound spending decisions and the doors of libraries kept open for the people to enjoy. We can only hope.
1 comment:
My spouse makes note cards with flowers pictures she has taken and donates them to the local public library to sell for $2 apiece. This money goes for new books. Thank you former Gov Pawlenty. Of course, the infranstructre roads, bridges etc. is collapsing. No new taxes was his motto so he rasied user fees on everything and kept his promise to the corporations and his wealthy supporters.
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