Substitute a good habit for the bad one you want to break. If your goal is to eat less junk food, find a healthy food you love.
The end of another year
Well, as we come to the close of another year, it always makes you take the time out to retlect on memories. I woke up Christmas reflecting on the reason for this joyous season and the things I enjoyed the most.
But had to remember the ones who moved on to glory. The first person who came to my mind was Dr. Edgar Jackson since he recently had to bury both his wife and son. Dr. Jackson meant so much to me growing up as I watched him and his sister Gwen sing in the Wade Singers (my father’s gospel group).
Staying right there with the thought of gospel, we lost a great singer and music historian in the likes of Bishop Robert Hubbard. It’s good to see all of his children carry on his legacy in music. Rev. Freddie L. Brown was a gospel giant among preachers, gone but not forgotten.
Antioch Baptist Church just said farewell to the Rev. Dr. Marvin McMickle after 24 years of leadership. There are so many things that meant a lot to people in some form or another.
While most are planning their New Year’s resolutions that they will break before the end of January, others look forward to a better and prosperous year. At the beginning of each year, everyone speculates on which trends will take off in the following 365 days but it isn't until we look back that we realize the true impact some had on the world.
Social media has been a common thread throughout many of the moments we’ll remember from 2011. Ask one generation where they were when Kennedy was assassinated, when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot, when the OJ Simpson verdict was announced and when the twin towers were struck, and you'll get different answers.
Ask this generation where they were when Osama Bin Laden was declared dead, when they first heard of serial killer Anthony Sowell, when the earthquake shook Japan, when the Casey Anthony verdict was read or when Steve Jobs passed, and you'll pretty much get the same answer.
Life is most enjoyable when we can appreciate things in our life that meant so much to us. As a kid, I use to enjoy sitting on the steps in Chicago, laughing and talking with my cousins until the late night hours. I know it does not sound exciting but it was fun times with George, Vanessa, Jinx and Henri.
My grandparent's loved us and was willing to do any and everything for us but there was one rule you better not break. All of us knew not to go in the refrigerator and bother grandma’s root beer pop. You would surely have to deal with the punishment if you did.
A New Year’s resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to one or more lasting personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous.
A New Year’s Resolution is generally a goal someone sets out to accomplish in the coming year. Some examples include resolutions to donate to the poor more often, to become more assertive, or to become more environmentally responsible. A key element to a New Year’s Resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year, and new beginnings.
New Year's resolutions can be both troublesome and rewarding. Many people make them but few make a real committment to them. Before you put the champagne on ice, spend some time pondering exactly what you hope to achieve in the year ahead and how you plan to do it.
Here’s a New Year’s resolution anyone can keep: resolve not to make any more New Year’s resolutions. Now, wasn’t that easy? If you’re trying to pay down your credit cards, quit smoking, get a new job, find a mate, or shed some excess poundage, abandoning New Year’s resolutions won’t get you off the hook.
But, by setting more realistic goals for yourself and not limiting yourself to a once‑a‑year, do‑or‑die, all‑out assault on that Everest of debt, those flabby thighs, or the hideous wallpaper you keep meaning to replace, you may find that the finish line isn’t so far away after all.
Or as the Rolling Stones put it, “you can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find you get what you need.”
Now, if you must make a resolution, limit the number of resolutions you make. It’s better to do one thing well than several things poorly (or not at all). Enlist the support of your friends and family. If you’re lucky, they'll have similar goals and you can work on your resolutions together. Encourage people to be helpful and supportive.
Practice new behaviors that encourage success. If you want to stop smoking, don’t hang out in smoke‑filled bars or casinos. If you want to lose weight, don’t bring desserts, junk food, candy or ice cream into the house. Limit your exposure to people who are likely to encourage resolution‑breaking behavior. There’s a reason parolees aren’t allowed to hang out with known criminals. They’re a bad influence. Surround yourself with good ones.
Substitute a good habit for the bad one you want to break. If your goal is to eat less junk food, find a healthy food you love. If you want to spend more time with your family, establish a special time during the week when everyone is together.
At the close of another year, we gratefully pause to express our sincere appreciation for your trust, loyalty, and continued support reading our paper each week.
May your holiday season and the New Year be filled with joy, happiness, health, and prosperity.
We are deeply thankful for our association, look forward to working with you in the coming year and hope our relationship continues for many years to come.
