How to Start the New Year Right – Update (originally published in 2018)

I’ve often wondered why so many people obsess over the start of the New Year and make such a huge production of listing some random set of resolutions that rather quickly fall by the wayside. Don’t get me wrong. As a former coach, I believe in setting goals and stating them aloud or writing them down is an important step, but why New Year’s Resolutions? Why wait till the beginning of another year to start doing the things that will improve our lives or make us better, or at least happier people?

I suppose there is a certain logic behind the idea. New year, new start, that kind of thing. Not that there is ever a wrong time to begin making positive steps at self-improvement. I’ve heard that the most often cited resolution made for New Year’s is to lose weight. For many of us this is a worthy goal, especially after we have routinely overeaten at both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Other people resolve to do a better job of sticking to their budget. Again, a worthy goal after we have so recently overspent on food and gifts and travel. Whatever tops your particular set of resolutions, allow me to offer one suggestion. Resolve to let go of the past year and all its baggage.

In my first novel (www.books2read.com/whatifproject), the main character, Jack, is convinced that his entire life has been affected, in a negative way, by one specific past event. In his mind, every bad thing that has ever happened to him can be traced back to this one moment in time. He truly believes that the only way to fix his present state is to somehow change his past. As the author, I can sum up the theme of the book in one word – regret. And don’t we all have regrets about our past decisions? Things we wish we could go back and do differently?

So, this year, let’s all resolve to stop letting our past get in the way of our present. And our future. Let’s make the conscious decision to look forward and start the year off right by giving ourselves an honest and a fresh new year unclouded by our past mistakes. Let’s wipe away the regrets and stop dwelling on the things we can’t change, but instead focus on the ones we can. 2021 is gone. Let’s make 2022 a truly fantastic new year!

Christmas 2019

Between work, and shopping, and family time, I’ve not found much time to write this week, but that’s okay. I’ve written about Christmas before and how much I love the season. Here are some of my previous thoughts on the subject.

Two years ago I shared a blog entitled Merry Christmas and All That. https://rdperryauthor.blogspot.com/2017/12/merry-christmas-and-all-that.html I think it still reflects my attitude in general. It’s actually one of the first few blogs I ever posted.

The following year, I posted an early blog on the Holiday Season https://rdperryauthor.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-holiday-season.html and came back a few weeks later to list my favorite Christmas movies https://rdperryauthor.blogspot.com/2018/12/my-favorite-christmas-movies-and.html.

A week later, I posted a few Christmas poems from my book of poetry that was still fairly new at the time. https://rdperryauthor.blogspot.com/2018/12/some-poems-for-christmas-season.html I still think they’re pretty good!

And of course, I’ve written about our annual Walk Through Bethlehem several times. https://rdperryauthor.blogspot.com/2019/12/walk-through-bethlehem-2019.html

So, if you’re in the mood for some holiday reading, take a few moments and check these out, and don’t forget to share your thoughts as well. Merry Christmas!

Time Magazine's Person of the Year

So, the editors of Time Magazine in their infinite wisdom have decided that the most influential person in the world this year is a sixteen year old kid who thought skipping school was the best way to protest for climate change. Starting with a local school strike, Greta Thunberg quickly became a media star, and her newfound fame got her an audience with the United Nations where she proceeded to scream at world leaders and blame them for stealing her dreams and her childhood. You know, because of the mass extinction coming soon to your very own neighborhood. Wow!

Her fans credit her with inspiring millions to join climate strikes around the globe (again by skipping school in protest because that’s always a good plan to appeal to teenagers) and she is hailed as a hero by more than just the folks at Time. She’s met with many political leaders and even the Pope to spread her message (which is absolutely true and backed up completely by every scientist in the world, not!) Sadly, most of her followers readily assume that Greta is an expert on the subject. In all fairness, she did see a film in school about it. And she reads a lot when she’s not spreading her gospel of doom and gloom.

It truly is sad to see a young person pushed into the spotlight and being used so blatantly by the media as a propaganda tool. It’s sad to see any parents allow their child to be used so shamelessly. (Is it considered child abuse if your kid becomes seriously depressed about the climate and instead of getting her professional help, you change your entire lifestyle to accommodate her delusion and then let her travel the world to be mocked and ridiculed? Asking for a friend.)

I just don’t see much common sense here. “Sure, Greta, get in a leaky sailboat and cross the ocean so you won’t leave a carbon footprint.” At least, she does have enough conviction to avoid the hypocrisy of all those other climate alarmists who fly all around the world to have meetings about that sort of thing. (Al Gore, yes, I’m talking about you. And Bernie, and all the other Liberals who want all the rest of us to go back to the horse and carriage while they travel by private jet everywhere they go. Or maybe they think we can all afford those expensive electric cars that none of them drive.) Actually, I just read an article that claims the yacht she was using has a diesel engine, but we weren’t supposed to know that.

Anyway, I’ve written before about climate change in a previous blog. You can find my opinions at: https://rdperryauthor.blogspot.com/2019/09/climate-change-from-perspective-of-true.html Regardless of what you believe about the whole issue, it still seems a stretch to call Greta Thunberg the most influential person of the year.

And in case you haven’t seen it, here’s a clip of Greta at the U.N. rudely addressing the adults in the room. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVlRompc1yE I know she’s just a kid, and I know she has Asperger’s syndrome, and all, but come on. When do we ever think it’s appropriate to have a teen-ager publicly scold a room full of adults? And then, reward her for it?

In all fairness, I feel sorry for the kid. She apparently believes in all sincerity that the world is coming to an end and it’s all because of the stupid adults who won’t deal with the climate crisis. She honestly believes the garbage that is so widely reported as fact by the media, and her parents are apparently okay with her being exploited for political purposes, so I guess there’s nothing to be done but let her play out her fifteen minutes of fame and hope that she finds a way to get back to some kind of normal life when it’s all over. Sadly, the Liberals and the media will move on to the next martyr soon and she will be left behind (like David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez, for example).

Fortunately, I don’t need Time Magazine to tell me who is important and influential in my world.

Walk Through Bethlehem 2019

Another year and another Christmas program come and gone! This year I spent the entire week nursing a cold and trying my best to hit the high notes on a special trio written by an old friend. Our director missed one night due to illness and so did one of our trio, but still, we did our best, and we survived!

I’ve done many programs over the years and they always help me to get into the Christmas spirit. There is still the tree (and other decorations) to put up, maybe some outside lights. The big community parade is still coming, but with the kids all grown, the yearly arrival of Santa is a little less exciting. Still, it’s another big event for our small town. Another sign that Christmas is upon us!

It’s almost time, ready or not! So go listen to some Christmas songs or check out the newest holiday movies, drink some hot chocolate or eggnog and get mentally prepared for the coming weeks. And don’t forget the true reason for the season.

 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 King James Version (KJV)

Here are my thoughts from last year:

Every year my church puts together a huge event for Christmas called “A Walk Through Bethlehem.” For many years, I have participated as a member of the choir. Sometimes we are at the front, entertaining the crowds as they wait to enter our village and learn about the birth of Christ. Other years, we are at the end singing our Christmas songs while the crowds drink wassail and hot chocolate, eat cookies, and contemplate their experience. Either way, we perform our set of ten to twelve songs and do our part to make it a special and festive event.

Inside the village, Roman guards usher you along as you pay your taxes (not really), complete your census form, and then wander through the shops and tents of the common people. As you sample the food and crafts of a typical Judean village, you can warm yourself by an open fire or get close enough to pet one of several live animals. On the way out, look for a very special newborn and listen to his story. It’s a good one.

Each night, I watched a multitude of youngsters walking around showing off their brand new children’s Bibles and a variety of handcrafted items they had picked up on their walk. Everyone was smiling and I was glad to be a part of such a great Christmas tradition. By the end of the first evening, we were tired and hoarse and wondering how we were going to make it through the next two nights, but still, it’s almost Christmas and I can hardly wait!

A Few New Definitions of Stupidity

Let me fall back into teacher mode and provide some education in the form of a few new definitions of stupidity brought to you courtesy of the Liberal Left. Not trying to offend and not calling any names! Just making a few observations based on current events.

Stupidity is -

1.       Ignoring an official written transcript of a phone call and instead calling a parade of hearsay partisan witnesses (who witnessed nothing) to tell what they thought, believed, felt, etc. when someone else told them what they heard from someone else about the phone call.

2.       Ignoring corruption, bribery, extortion by a sitting Vice President and his son (admitted to boldly on camera) while attempting to impeach a duly elected President who asked for help in investigating this very same corruption.

3.       Ignoring a specially given opportunity to gain employment and instead choosing to trash the organization (after suing them and taking their money) and refusing to cooperate with them thus demonstrating your inability to be a positive leader within the organization. Just my opinion, but insulting potential employers and accusing them of racism usually doesn’t lead to job offers.

Just to be clear, smart people (including myself) frequently do stupid things. I myself try not to repeat my stupid mistakes, but rather try to learn from them. Anyway, have a great week and let me know what you think!