Daily Resolution: Go Easy on the Nose

The sense of smell can be a very sensitive issue for some people. While it is a powerful trigger for memory (good or bad), certain smells can also be a catalyst for migraines and nausea in some people.  That aromatic potpourri you use around the house could be just the excuse a guest might have to leave your house early. Notice that nobody is eating lunch with you at work? Maybe it is the lingering garlic in your microwaved meal (one of the most popular complaints in the worksite!). So be a little more cognizant of the scents you surround yourself with; someone else may be forcibly wearing you for the rest of the day.

Daily Resolution: Give the Gift of Time

‘Tis the season to be busy…fa la la la la!” Instead of shopping around for a gift to wrap for your boss, your brother, your wife, or your kids, give the gift of time. Imagine your own appreciation of an offer like that! Watch your neighbor’s children for an evening so the adults can go out for a few hours. Go to a park with your children and take a frisbee or football instead of the cell phones and mp3 players. Invite your parents to a special dinner at your place. Create your own special card with a clock icon, and watch the puzzlement on faces when they open it. Time is free and something no one will want to refuse: the perfect gift.

Daily Resolution: Put a Cork in It!

At one point in your life, whether it’s today or ten years from now, you’re going to need a good bottle stopper. Bottle stoppers can also be a very personal way to appreciate someone and could make for an interesting collectible. There are a multitude of themes/interests they may depict: sports equipment, historical figures, college teams, animals, etc. From glass to pewter to porcelain, bottle stoppers might be the answer to “what can I give him/her?” A bottle of wine on the side might be a nice touch too!

Daily Resolution: Start a New Tradition…Keep an Old One Going

December brings out a whole cadre of annual traditions, some familiar and some unusual. Baking and decorating cut-out cookies, playing “Secret Santa” at work, caroling through the neighborhood, or just adorning the house with lights and inflatable snowmen: these activities all become part of the fanfare of the season. Why not start a new tradition? Wait to decorate the tree on Christmas Eve, and do it as a family. Have a cookie exchange with your neighbors. Give a specific type of gift to someone each year (example, a nutcracker). Too normal for you? You could always look into the Spanish tradition of “el caganer”…you will have to look this one up, folks.

Daily Resolution: Be a Designated Driver

This time of year the social calendars tend to fill up with events that include delicious food and spirits along with the year-ending celebrations. To keep the festivities safe, offer to be a designated driver for a friend, colleague, or spouse. Make the offer ahead of time so no one is offended at the office party when you try to take his/her keys. Aspirin not included.