February 2023

Today’s Resolution: Get Recharged

Batteries can be a nuisance. You can never find them when you need them; they die at inconvenient times; and they can be expensive. Remembering to change them usually only happens at Daylight Savings time twice a year when we are admonished to check our smoke detectors. Do a battery inventory today. Get back-up batteries or buy a charger and rechargeable ones.

Do you know what to do with old batteries? Do not discard them in a regular trash can; they contain toxic materials. Check with your local recycling center or contact a battery retailer. When was the last time you had your car battery checked?

Today’s Resolution: Push for One More

As you go through the day be cognizant of when you can push yourself just a little harder to achieve. If you exercise, strive for one more sit-up, push, or rep. Diet conscious? Drink one more glass of water. Running errands? Add one more stop to your travels to knock off one more off the “things to do” list.

Encourage others to do the same. Ask children to pick up one more toy; ask your significant someone for one more kiss. Ask the boss for one more pay raise…discretion is advised.

Today’s Resolution: Pick Your Poison

We like to think of our medicine cabinets as a first aid kit: band-aids for cuts, aspirin for headaches, and vitamins for prevention. But this can also be a warehouse for poison. Instead of waiting until you’ve been up all night hacking to figure out of the cough medicine that you need is expired, go through your medications now and see what might be potentially lethal.

As you discard unusable items, keep a list of what you need to replenish. Make sure you have the basics on hand: an antibiotic ointment, a thermometer, different sized bandages, etc. It might even be a good idea to make a first aid kit for your car

Today’s Resolution: Be a Good Sport

Resolve to try a new sport or activity…something you have never tried before. Find a friend to try it with you or better yet, ask someone to teach you something. Want to get some aggression out? Try a golf driving range or even a shooting range. Water sports more your style? Yoga boarding blends the best of two sports for a meditative balancing effort to remain dry. Rock climbing, lawn bowling, fishing? Need something a little more tame?  There’s always BINGO.

Today’s Resolution: Decide on Paper or Plastic

In recent years there has been much conversation about the consumer use of paper or plastic in grocery stores for goods. How much thought have you given to the topic? Some stores across the country are no longer offering a choice to customers.  In May 2012, the city of Los Angeles approved a ban on plastic bags as well as incorporated a 10 cent fee for the use of paper bags. Reusable canvas bags have also been used by consumers, but later have been found to accumulate and store bacteria.

Make a well-informed decision on the question: paper or plastic?

If you have made a decision on this issue, can you defend it?

Today’s Resolution: Stay Tuned Up

Spend some time reviewing your music portfolio. iPods, mp3 players, phones, PCs…wherever you house your favorite music, see what needs updating.

Delete anything you do not listen to anymore, reorganize playlists, or create new playlists! Still holding on to cassettes? Got too many CDs taking up space? Consider transferring files and upgrading.

Brainstorm a song list of music you wish you had.  Revamp old collections and categorize: travel music for road trips, cleaning the house music (to blare when vacuuming), workout music (obvious), etc.

Today’s Resolution: Endeavor To Market, To Market!

Local farmers’ markets are growing across the US. Many people are under the impression that these are much more costly than commercial markets and fruits and vegetables are the only products offered to consumers. Of course, neither of these is true. Plants, handmade crafts, local wines are just a few of the treasures one might find.

Some communities even have other events linked to their market attraction: car shows, auctions, festivals, etc. The local newspaper or the website for your city or town usually posts dates and locations for the nearest markets. Even if you do not plan on purchasing anything, farmers markets make for a nice outing where you can mingle with the community; you are likely to run into someone you know.

Today’s Resolution: Copy Right

Although we live in an age where reproductions and copies are commonplace, have you considered whether you could get your hands on a copy of your very important documents? It’s a good idea to take an inventory of items you should have copies of and ensure that copies are in a safe place.

Items such as wills, any insurance policies, deeds, contracts, etc. should be copied and perhaps deposited into a safety deposit box or  handed over to a close relative (especially if he/she is an executor to your will). Even copies of a passport or a school transcript can be helpful to have on hand. Not too comfortable with having vital information in multiple places? Scan items so you have electronic copies rather than hard copies.