Jim Baumgart shares his ideas on resolutions for better living in 2010
With 2009 quickly coming to a close, one needs to look toward next year. As this writer has done many times in the past, it is time to think about a few New Year’s resolutions. I find it’s helpful set some written goals that would be nice to reach even though some may be difficult. Here is part of my list for 2010.
- Try to be more helpful to my wife Carol and daughter Kate. While I do the majority of the cooking at home and do drive my daughter to many of her events at Sheboygan’s South High School, there is always room to be more considerate and do more.
- Exercise more. I do try to workout on a regular basis at the Sheboygan YMCA, but summer fishing and fall hunting seasons tend to cut into that process. Advancing age does limit how hard one can work out but not how often it can be done. More would be better.
- Do things for my neighbors and community. Being on the Sheboygan County Board does allow one to better understand many of the difficulties individuals and families face.
- Make sure one is getting the best medical service for the price being charged. Although not enough, I do try to ask the reasons and understanding for the cost for some doctor’s appointments and procedures. If we are ever to control the rapid increase of medical costs, we all must respectfully ask why and shop around for better costs when we can. We all must try to be better health care consumers.
- Support such groups as the Salvation Army and others in their efforts to serve others. It is an area in which our family does all right, but realize we could always do better.
- Recycle more.
- Save on home and auto costs. We do turn down the heat at night and have improved our home insulation but there is still more to do. Combine and plan better so we make fewer auto shopping trips; money saved on gas is better spent by us for other things.
- Lose weight. It is one I list each and every year. But for me, it is difficult. In 2010 I will try to do better.
- Buy local and buy products made in the United States of American. It is hard, but I do look at almost all product labels to see where it is made - and often pass up a purchase.
This list of resolutions is a work in progress. The ones listed are doable for me and certainly can be improved on. We all need goals. Writing them down is a good reminder and reviewing them from time to time is another way to stay focused. It is the way that is helpful to me.
