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New Years Resolutions
By Joe Renna
It's February, time to pull out our New Year's resolutions for a quick review and proceed to flush them down the toilet. Previous generations sacrificed to make a better life for us today. They may have made it too good. Can you imagine Depression era immigrants making a list of resolutions?
"Let's see, this year I resolve to pack up everything I own, put it in one suitcase, uproot my family and travel to a foreign land for the chance that my children will be able to break the cycle of poverty that is my life." Better yet, they probably made daily resolutions. "Today, I resolve to work enough hours so I can buy a loaf of bread to feed my family." How frivolous are our lives?
The practice of making New Year's Resolutions is a testimony to how great our quality of life is. It all comes down to choices. As we step back in time we can see that there were few options available. Now, we make a list of things that we would like to accomplish and then we ignore it only to make the same list in another year.
The concept is that these are things that we can do to enrich our lives. Correcting bad behavior or developing noble pursuits. This implies that our present routines are second rate. There would be no need for resolutions if the right choices in our lives were already being made.
Not everyone is as aloof to living life to its fullest. We can see examples of correct living all around. They are the people with the success stories, not just financial but personal. They are also the people who are most content in life. Happy to be doing what they are doing. If a correction needs to be made they make it. Simple as that.
It is inspiring to read about the accomplishments of the people from our community. We can relate to their stories because we come from the same stock. They are proof that anything is possible.
On a grand scale we have the story of James and Jane Cusumano. She wrote and directed a movie while fighting a losing battle with breast cancer. He is only revolutionizing the chemical industry as a pioneer in catalytic development. I actually listed "play more chess" as one of my New Year's resolutions.
Jim's father, Charles, is successful in a different way. His life is as honorable as one could hope. He makes an impact on his community; he helps others in the best way he can; he also raised ten children who will perpetuate his principals.
The point I want to stress is that success comes in many forms. Do not confuse what James did with what is expected of yourself. The moment we start comparing ourselves to others is the moment we fail. At that point, we might as well make lists, for we have already limited our expectations by defining them in terms of someone else's.
There is no measure for living right. Money is the measure of financial success. Only we can measure our individual success. The criteria for doing so is personal. We are judge and jury; harsh when it comes to accusations but way too lenient when it comes to sentencing. We are released on our own recognizance to correct our selves. How many of us can be trusted to do the right thing? How many of us write a list of resolutions that never get accomplished?
Not for Nothing But...
make a daily New Year resolution and improve your life each day.