And here's Part Two of how we need to handle 2017.
If this year is to have a theme song, the best one might be the old Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes hit "Wake up Everybody":
Wake up everybody no more sleepin' in bed
No more backward thinkin' time for thinkin' ahead
The world has changed so very much
From what it used to be
There is so much hatred, war an' poverty ...
The world won't get no better if we just let it be
The world won't get no better we gotta change it yeah, just you and me
I wrote last week about how we need to do a blessings count, make our own good news and see what we can contribute to the new year. I thought I'd follow that up with a few specific suggested New Year's resolutions, some of which are inspired by recent world-gone-wild headlines and personal Notes to Self:
Show friendliness, but resolve to stop begging for friendships, and more specifically, stop begging for the rekindling of friendships that have died out. If people are too busy for you, take the hint. Indeed, some people are in your life only for a season.
OK, I won't parrot the "save money" thing here. I will say this: Resolve to look for more ways to live frugally, which should be helped immensely by the keeping of Resolution No. 1. Sources such as nerdwallet.com report that despite stagnant incomes, more people have racked up credit card debt because of, well, stagnant incomes, especially in the face of big increases in housing and food prices, medical expenses and such. It's tough ... God knows it's tough. But there are ways to navigate lean times. For instance, if you can't or don't want to move back in with your folks, you may have to get a roommate or two. Do the Depression-era thing and look to fix or live with what you can't afford to replace. ("Girly stuff" warning to my male readers here: I've had to do my own hair -- apologies to the "loctitian" whom I hope to again give my business in the near future -- and have become a savvy thrift-store shopper. I've also become the MacGyver of wardrobe maintenance, especially when it comes to repairing or restyling clothing.) Look for a side gig. If a part-time moonlighting job isn't feasible, look around for something that affords you flexible hours and lets you work from home. And as I wrote two weeks earlier here on emulating the millennials' good points, take joy in cheap experiences rather than expensive things.
Resolve to stop, once and for all, making a habit of endlessly scrolling down that Facebook newsfeed. Either it's going to be a downer because it's full of sad posts from people who are doing so much worse than you, or it's going to present an envy temptation because it's full of posts by people who are doing so much better than you. Throw in what is sure to be continued political rants, and well, you get the picture. I'm not saying disengage altogether, just resolve to "slow your scroll" -- for your own mental and emotional health.
Resolve not to assume anything: Not to assume you're going to win an election. Not to assume you have all the time in the world to make whatever accomplishments you want to make. Not to assume your favorite people will stick around. Not to assume that going about your regular business and minding it will keep you safe.
(Closely related to No. 4): Resolve to always lap your water from your hands; don't kneel to drink it directly from the stream. It's borrowed from the Old Testament story of Gideon, his 300-man army, and the way those men were chosen: the ones who lapped their water, putting hands to mouth while staying aware of their surroundings, were the ones chosen to fight. Those who knelt to drink didn't make the cut. This is not a call to paranoia, but a call to alertness. Resolve to stay aware of your surroundings in all arenas. You may be called to fight -- for your aforementioned peace and sanity, for your personal safety, for your community, for your convictions.
The saying goes: Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. I like this Denis Waitley quotation better: "Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised." Happy New Year, and may at least the majority of your 2017 surprises fall into the positive camp.
Oh yeah -- lose weight, stop smoking and email:
hwilliams@arkansasonline.com
Style on 01/01/2017