I’m thinking that today might have some particular extra meaning, being as how it’s the first box on a whole pile of calendar pages.
Oh, sure, it does happen to be my birthday, but that always wasn’t a big source of joy since it was so soon after Christmas and the gift-giving spirit mostly left with Santa. (He is real, just as real as “Die Hard” and “Lethal Weapon” are Christmas movies.)
Another reason is my younger brother’s birthday is on the 17th, and like many other families, my folks opted to have one party sometime around the 12th. Not really conducive to feeling special. (I’m not complaining. I’ve come to realize that my birthday is observed around the world.)
The specialty comes with folks attempting to come up with those pesky resolutions that will be broken in a week at the latest. Weight loss, diet, reading, exercise — all end up falling by the wayside after a short period of time because of the pressures of living, or in my case, apathy. See, I love to cook, and I surely love to eat, so trying to curb that impulse is just asking for failure.
One of the things that has been on my mind is that most of the resolutions I’ve made have been to affect other people’s perceptions of me, basically an exercise in ego. Sure, losing weight and getting healthy will ultimately be good for me, but I’ve never felt that I was doing it for me. So this year, I’m looking forward to making resolutions that are different, and maybe start a new trend.
For instance, one resolution I think is paramount is patience. One of the many problems that I’ve had with relationships is jumping to the end of the story long before everyone around me has had a chance to even understand what the issue might be. It’s pretty inconsiderate and can make me come off as arrogant.
I hereby resolve to be patient and let things unfold organically.
A second issue of importance to me is tolerance. This is one, I think, that many folks could benefit from.
If there is strength in diversity, it is critical to understand that diversity is not just in background, but in thought and belief as well. Too many times a belief will be thought to be the only answer to any question, and people with opposing viewpoints are demeaned, insulted or even attacked. Political stances, religious preferences, even things that should be as innocuous as library books have cause deep rifts in people, so much so that no one, and that on occasion includes me, gives any other idea credence.
I hereby resolve to let myself and others agree to disagree.
Then we come to proper language, both written and spoken.
Being an editor, I find that most social media missives, many online articles, the occasional church or restaurant sign and emails are just terribly written, and I become insta-editor and then spend hours rubbing the bridge of my prodigious nose in frustration. Particularly with exclamation points.
That pales, however, to whatever passes as conversation between opposing factions of anything. There is quite a lot of hate wrapped up in all of that, and the urge to win or one-up the opponent is overwhelming. Sensible discussion is replaced with insults and zingers, facts are obscured with whataboutism and minutia, and absolutely no consideration is given on either side.
I hereby resolve to improve my eloquence and writing.
Put all together, I’m thinking that the best resolution was given by Bill S. Preston and Ted “Theodore” Logan: “Be excellent to each other.”
Tony Farkas is editor of the San Jacinto News-Times and the Trinity County News-Standard. He can be reached at tony@polkcountypublishing.com.
