New Year’s Resolutions… Again???
The time of year has come for the traditional writing of the New Year’s Resolutions!HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The time of year has come for the traditional writing of the New Year’s Resolutions! Wikipedia defines a New Year’s resolution as “a tradition in which a person makes a promise to do an act of self-improvement or something slightly nice.” Thousands of people have probably written a long list of “resolutions” for the upcoming year! Thousands of those resolutions will be broken by the end of the month.
Why bother with resolutions that will most assuredly be broken? Most people have good intentions and great enthusiasm as they list all the things they would like to change about themselves. The problem comes because many resolutions are unrealistic and almost impossible to keep. Why not start the year with goals that can be attained? Consider the following list of resolutions:
Be a person of your word. Don’t make promises you are not sure you can keep. Don’t make plans with someone and then change your mind at the last minute. Don’t tell someone you will come at a certain time and then be late or not show up at all. Be truthful with people.
Choose your friends wisely. The people you associate with are a reflection of you. Choose to hang around people you want to be like. Friends should build you up not tear you down.
Work on your communication skills. Communication is not just talking to someone. Communication is also about listening
and making eye contact during a conversation. Body language also plays an important
part in communication. Sometimes your voice is saying one thing and your tone of
voice, your gestures, and your facial expressions say something totally different.
Developing your communication skills will help in all aspects of your life.
Be more positive. No one wants to be around a person who is always complaining. Turn negative comments
into positive ones. People migrate to those who are upbeat and happy. Listen to
your own thoughts…are they positive or negative?
Keep a good sense of humor. Sometimes it helps if you just laugh at yourself and the things you do. Do things that are fun and make you laugh. Laughter is good for the soul. Try it! You will feel better afterward. Laughing improves your state of mind, and you are happier for it.
Strive to be emotionally stable. Does your family or your co-workers know which “you” is walking through the door?
Don’t live on an emotional roller coaster. For a person to be on cloud nine one minute
and down in the dumps the next minute is extremely hard on family and peers. Learning
to control one’s emotions is a good sign of a mature adult. Being the same, day in
and day out, brings peace and stability into the home and the workplace.
Don’t talk so much. We have one mouth and two ears. Maybe that means we should listen twice as much as
we talk!! If everyone would follow that statement, we could probably avoid many problems
in our daily lives. People just talk too much when they should be listening!
Learn from your mistakes. Be open to feedback and constructive criticism. Be mindful of the people giving you advice. It is not a good idea to be listening to the person with no job, no money, multiple failed business ventures, or the one not making good grades. Seek advice from people who are more successful than you; someone who is respected and trustworthy.
Put others first. When you regard others as being more important than yourself, all of the other resolutions become easier to follow. Putting the needs of others before your own keeps you from being selfish and arrogant, and gives you a good feeling because you have helped someone.
Let 2015 be a year of growth for you. Try putting one or more of these resolutions
on your list—it just may be the one you keep. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
You may contact Linda at the Garland County Extension Office at 623-6841 or 922-4703,
email Linda at lbates@uada.edu, or visit our website at www.uaex.uada.edu.
4-H Information
We have several 4-H clubs for our Garland county youth who are 5 to 19 years old. For more information on all the fun 4-H activities there are, call the Extension Office at 623-6841 or 922-4703 or email Linda Bates at lbates@uada.edu.
EHC Information
Are you interested in joining an existing Extension Homemakers Club? EHC is the largest volunteer organization in the state. For information on EHC call 623-6841 or 922-4703 or email jvincent@uada.edu.
Master Gardeners
If you’re interested in becoming a Master Gardener and would like more information, you’re welcome to attend their monthly meeting on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 1pm at the Elks Lodge. You may also call the Extension office on 623-6841 or 922-4703 or email abates@uada.edu.
By Linda Bates
County Extension Agent - 4-H
The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Media Contact: Linda Bates
County Extension Agent - 4-H
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
236 Woodbine Hot Springs AR 71901
(501) 623-6841
lbates@uada.edu
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