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Sue's Resolutions for 2010 by Susan Ellingson

Another new year, another list of resolutions. This year my theme is to aim low and increase the chance of success. The idea came to me after reading my grandmother’s teenage diary from 1937. She kept it simple and so should we. Here’s my take on her list with a few of my own (in blue) added in.

BRUSH YOUR TEETH. For those of us who mastered this basic hygiene long ago, don’t forget to floss and go to the dentist every six months. Dental hygiene is important for your overall health. And while we are on the subject of regular exams, don’t forget to get a Pap and if your doctor advises it, a mammogram. Take care of yourself!

MAKE YOUR HAIR NICE. Well, we can certainly all do that. Get a new style or color, anything to brighten up January and beyond.

GO TO THE SHOW MORE. Actually, my grandmother said “Don’t go to the show so much.” (This came after a series of diary entries describing how she went to “the show” or cinema every night.) I support not following this resolution of hers. Do the opposite. Go to the show. Support your local theatre.

DRESS NICER. Just because it‘s gray nine months out of the year doesn’t mean we need to swathe ourselves in fleece all the time. Gore-Tex is for tents and fleece for camping. Get a bright coat, a good pair of gloves and a fun hat. You personally can help counter our dreary winters. Fight back!

WORK HARDER AT SCHOOL. We can all work harder to learn something new, even if we graduated a long time ago. Take on simple home repairs, try a new recipe once a week or start learning a new language (check out the online programs on your library’s Web site) – all things that will give you a sense of accomplishment (and possibly help stave off Alzheimer’s).

UPDATE YOUR RÉSUMÉ. In these uncertain times, you should keep your résumé updated and ready to hand out. You want to be ready should the unexpected happen in your current job of if you come across one that is a better fit. If you need help, there are plenty of services available to help you polish it up.

DRIVE BETTER. Really. Having a teenage driver in the house has made me more aware of the bad driving habits we all slip into over time. Don't talk on a cell phone, be sure to come to a complete stop at stop signs and go slow in school zones!

PLAY A GAME. Once a week try to play a board or card game with your family or friends. Bananagrams® is a great new version of Scrabble® that my family has gotten hooked on. My grandmother taught me a card game called “Peanuts” that the women of my family play with a passion at gatherings. Think double solitaire on speed.

FALL IN LOVE. I don’t mean romantically, although that would be nice if you aren’t already committed. But fall in love with your block, your neighborhood or your city. Being in love means you treat the object of your affections well. Clean up your yard. Volunteer at a park or school cleanup. Shop in your neighborhood. You’ll help make 2010 a little brighter for us all.

When Susan Ellingson isn’t working at Seattle Woman or fighting her bad driving habits, she shops.

©Copyright 2010, Caliope Publishing Company