New Year’s Resolutions–A time for Reflection and Opportunity

Resolutions made on New Year’s Eve are common. It is a time to reflect on the previous year’s joys, disappointments and challenges and decide how we want to live life in the upcoming year. There are always the old standbys—I want to lose weight, exercise, quit smoking, get healthy, make a career move, take my dream trip, all good resolutions, but other resolutions are specifically geared to those who are middle-aged and older.

Here are some resolutions that are not as common as the above:

• Keep your brain fit as well as your body. Engage in activities that require logic, memory and reasoning. Playing Scrabble, doing crossword puzzles, playing Words with Friends or attending lectures on topics unfamiliar to you are good ways to keep your brain fit. The Shepherd’s Center has a “Coming of Age” program which is specific for older adults. Check out their website at www.sccentral.org or call them at 816-444-1121.

• Become a volunteer—work with nonprofit agencies, volunteer at the local hospital, botanical gardens, pre-school, church, library, etc. Your life experiences and skills could greatly benefit an organization. It will give your life additional meaning, promote wellness, keep you involved in the world and give you a more active social life.

To find volunteer opportunities in the Kansas City metro area contact Nonprofit Connect at info@npconnect.org or call them at 816-888-5600. Also, the United Way of Greater Kansas City has a comprehensive listing of volunteer opportunities. To get a list of volunteer opportunities go to www.unitedwaygkc.org or call United Way at 816.559.4667.

• It is a growing trend to learn the history of one’s family—the popularity of www.ancestry.com and other similar websites have many individuals asking about their family history. Take time to write down family experiences or stories. Go through old photos and label the backs with the date, location and names of those on the photo. If you have a scanner, start scanning in the photos and make a CD for each family member.

Talk to your children and grandchildren about the family history and the historical events that have occurred since you were born. Often, we think our children and grandchildren know the family history but more often that isn’t the case. The days of keeping family Bibles and storytelling is not as common as it was in the previous century.

Make 2013 a year of discovery, a year of paying it forward and year of making sure your family knows about its history.

Life is what you make it!

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