I have done resolutions in the past, usually health related ones, usually not successful.
Interestingly when it comes to weight loss/healthy eating, I think my best efforts came when I started in the fall. Something about the lazy times of summer being over, that "back to school" feeling of getting down to business.
These are not resolutions exactly, but here's a couple of things that have been on my mind as needing to happen.
When I initially retired, my main volunteer thing was working at a nonprofit music venue. Usually at ticket sales, sometimes at concessions. It was a good deal because ticket volunteers are usually released at 8:30 or 9 pm and you could go inside and see a good portion of the show. A nice way to see music that you might not pay to see, because of not being familiar with it.
That all stopped for quite a while during the pandemic. While I've been back a few times, I just haven't been in the mood for some reason.
I also took on being on the board of a nonprofit and had to quit because the executive director was just too frustrating. I have continued doing a bit of holiday work for them though. They place barrels throughout the cities as a convenient place for people to place donated gifts (the org exists to give holiday gifts to isolated seniors). So once a week I go collect gifts from barrels and transport them to HQ. But a one month volunteer assignment doesn't feel like enough.
So I need to figure out something that I will enjoy (or at least not hate) where I feel like I'm doing "enough" (hard to define haha!).
My last major purge was a little over 10 years ago when I moved to this house. I have done some small purges since then but nothing significant. I'm not getting any younger. Every time I read an article about how you shouldn't leave the task of getting rid of stuff to your descendants, I feel a pang of apprehension.
I did do a major garage cleanout, but that was to make room for HWD's stuff lol. He's tried to tackle his garage pile a few times, without making much of a dent.
Yesterday we were coming back from a New Year's day outing (it has become kind of a tradition to go visit Minnehaha Falls) and he made a comment about my patio umbrella. It used to be forest green but has faded to kind of an ugly khaki. I said, "I usually take it into the garage for the winter, along with my lounge chair, but I didn't get around to it this year. Plus it didn't seem like there was any space for it." He had the grace to look a bit guilty.
I know it is ridiculous to think that if I purge, he will somehow be inspired to get rid of his stuff in the garage and basement, but at least my stuff will be gone.
Happy New Year!
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Happy new year. Cool frozen falls
Some intrepid people try to get behind the ice, but it’s not a good idea:
In the realm of giving, I have become somewhat cynical about donating to non-profits. This is a result of perusing IRS Form 990s. This year Warren Buffett noted that his Giving Pledge movement has not flourished like he had hoped. He will not be giving away his fortune in the manner he had planned. His reason is charities and foundations have become too bloated. This is essentially the same as what I have observed. I think Warren was being charitable when he used the word "bloated."
I applaud your volunteer work.
May both of us find new ways of giving this year.
I worked for a non-profit arts organization early in my career, so I suppose I have some sympathy with how difficult it is to keep administrative costs down. You need money so you have to write grant applications so you need to hire a development director and boom your admin costs go up (unless they are so spectacularly talented that they raise a bunch of new money that more than covers their salary.
Anyway, I’ve found a site called Charity Navigator can be helpful in sorting out that kind of stuff
@smartasswoman For your consideration: Teresa Rasmussen of the Minnesota Lutheran non-profit Thrivent had total compensation in 2022 of $7,585,794. Probably near $10M now. Nice work if you can get it. Don't get me started on the likes Knights of Columbus, LDS, or Battellle.
@smartasswoman CORRECTION: That number was additional comp. Add regular w-2 compensation of $6,920,027 (2022). I'm not a compensation expert, but I do wonder what the justification might be other than it might put one near par with the big donors. Sometimes I think the higher you go, the more your brain liquifies and reality becomes a fading memory for some. With that kind of income, there is little need to interact with the masses.
I have a bunch of stuff I need to get rid of, too. I should get around to getting rid of them.
Good luck! 😁
I like your take — not resolutions, just things that feel ready to be tended to. The volunteer work and the purging both sound familiar in their own ways. Your New Year’s visit to Minnehaha Falls looks like a good tradition. Happy New Year to you also.
At least I am depending on the library rather than buying books these days! Small steps...
I kind of sneak up on those health and fitness resolutions. Joining a gym to get fit (resolution) is not going to happen ... but park farther from the door (suggestion) yes, I can do that.
Don't forget to link your post
I think one that would be good for me would be developing the habit of going for a short walk after dinner. Hard to act on when it's dark and cold with icy sidewalks though! Maybe yoga...
@smartasswoman I've been looking at those chair yoga ads on FB. Download for free involves 35 different questions first though.
And a Happy New Year to you and HWD as well.🥂
Purging... sounds like a plan. 😶
Happy new year to you. We’ll see how the “plan” goes.
Volunteering is great for one's soul.
Like you, I'm thinking of doing a purge for when I die. It'll be mainly a digital rather than an analogue purge!
I am actually making pretty decent progress with the digital purge. 1800 blog count down to about 630.
Both worthy goals, and ones I've considered, but the laws of inertia seem to apply.
I am very familiar with inertia!