It’s time to make New Year’s Resolutions! The start of a fresh year inspires people to improve their lives. Maybe they want to be healthier, so they resolve to eat less, excercise more and cut out smoking. Maybe they want to improve their relationships, so they resolve to be more patient, spend more time with the family or be kinder to everyone. Those are great resolutions, but consider adding a few more to your list relating to improving your mind.
The following are examples of New Year’s Resolutions that as a retired librarian, I would like to see on everyone’s list:
• Read a bedtime story to your child every night
• Read the newspaper and keep up on current events
• Take your children regularly to the Homework Help Center in the library
• Borrow a book or video from the library to develop a talent (learn to paint, play the guitar or dance)
• Learn about the Internet and what it can offer you
• Build up your personal library with inexpensive books from a used bookstore or swap with a friend
• Turn off the television one evening a week and read something just for fun
• Expand your knowledge of managing your money by reading financial books and magazines from the library
• Set a reading goal for yourself such as reading all of Hemingway’s novels
• Keep a book or magazine handy wherever you have to wait so you can read instead of fuming over wasted time
• Improve your vocabulary and grammar in your primary language or a second language
• Instill in your children a love of reading
• Pretend you are taking a university class; choose a subject and give yourself reading assignments until you master it
• Schedule regular twice a month visits to the library to keep stocked up on reading materials
• Listen to a book on cassette on earphones while walking or riding the exercise bike
• Choose an area of literature, such as poetry or Latino literature, and familiarize yourself the best writing available
Let us hope that one of these resolutions appears on your list for the upcoming year. Think of a reward to keep you on track. Most people start out well, but slack off as the year progresses. Put a reminder on your calendar for July to “try again on the resolutions”. Resolve this year to EXERCISE YOUR MIND!