COMMUNITY

Why my New Year’s Resolutions never work

By Janaki Jane Redstone Review

LYONS – I like New Year’s resolutions. I use them more as intentions, to remind myself of how I want my life to be. One I used for too many years is some version of, “I will allow more organization into my life.” I am not sure that one has ever worked, though: I seem to be perpetually living in an uproar of magazines and clothes on the floor. But, still, I persist, and each December I use the impending change of the calendar to think about my life and figure out something that I want to encourage myself to work on for the year.

This resolved intention, or whatever it is, cannot be too general: “I want to be a better person” is always true for me, but far too general for the reminder I need my New Year’s resolutions to be.

Also, too specific does not work for me: “I will lose five pounds a month,” while it would probably be a good idea, would have me diving into leftover pumpkin pie and stollen on January first. I find as I get older that I want to be both gentler and more, well, resolute in what I resolve. Therefore, this year, I intend to do one thing: get my office organized. It is one room; how hard can it be?

Well, quite hard. My office is also the room where my closet and dresser live. I have already mentioned the clothing on the floor issue – don’t judge. My office is also where my art supplies are – a lot of them – and my notebooks from decades of journaling and writing. It is where I have my active notebooks from the current projects and groups I am involved in, to take notes at meetings and keep my thoughts about them organized: writing, speaking and storytelling, grant writing, mental health, diversity and inclusion, LGBTQ+. It’s how I keep my mind organized, all those notebooks, digital just makes it harder, for me, so paper it is.

This is a small room: 7 ft. by 9 ft., maybe a bit smaller, in a very small house. It also has a love seat and two small bookcases of my most used and inspirational books and my file cabinet and a tall bookcase that is supposed to hold the items I am currently using but ends up being a catchall for things that seem to have no real place.

When my office is organized, I love it. It is cozy and my very small desk sits under an east-facing window through which I can see the rosy skies of our mountain mornings; it has a cream and rose rug that keeps my toes warm and helps me to feel centered and grounded.

Hanging on the wall above the loveseat is a two-shelf bookshelf, with the books that feed my soul. I can get up and grab Sam Watterson, or The Wind in the Willows, C. S. Lewis and Phillip Pullman or Patrick Rothfuss any time I am in the mood; my 1963 edition of The Hobbit given to me on Christmas, 1964, when we lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, and that inspired an article on my memories of visiting a castle in Scotland and being shown an original manuscript of The Two Towers with Tolkien’s edits by a close friend of his.

There are at least ten books by Ursula LeGuin; wellleaved and well-loved poetry by Archibald MacLeish and e.e. cummings and John Donne and William Carlos

Williams and Rilke I like; books by Marshall MacLuhan and Pema Chodron and the Dalai Lama and Joseph Campbell and Angeles Arrien. There are many books on writing and creativity that are Post-It® filled and often referenced by others on Zoom® meetings: Stephen King’s On Writing, inspiring for anyone to read, not just writers; Christina Baldwin’s Calling the Circle, a mainstay of my life; Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones, a writing bible for more than one generation. Books by Julia Cameron and Betty Edwards and Anne Lamott also find themselves there. Jane Those books and the desk are the heart of my office, and as I sit at that east facing desk and write this, and look up at that bookshelf beside me, I realize most of why my office is still, after many resolutions, a mess. Those books are taken down often, read, referred to, displayed on Zoom®, and always put back where they live. Unlike my clothing, which ends up on the floor, or even my art supplies, that seem to spill out of the bassinet that is their home, those books are where they should be, always, if I am not actively reading or using them. I can lay my hand on any one of them within a moment. Which explains, perhaps, why I keep resolving an intention to get organized but never get there. It just does not matter to me that much. Those books, which I use and peruse frequently, are always where they should be. They are my friends. My clothes? I do not really care that much. My art supplies do need a better container. My kitchen is just too small for all the things I need to do the cooking I do. But on examination, the important things, my books, are organized, and easy to access, my friends on paper who will always be there for me whenever I need them. I guess I can be organized when it really matters to me.

Janaki Jane writes on issues of society and mental health. She is the Program Director of the Wide Spaces Community Initiative, a program of the Lyons Community Library. The Initiative’s vision is “A Community of Belonging and Personal Safety for Everyone.” She can be reached at widespacescommunity@gmail.com.

Support reducing human impact on the environment

By Dawn Weller Redstone Review

LYONS – One specific action that can be done in every home and business is recycling. As you know, recycling conserves resources, saves energy, and reduces landfill waste and methane emissions. Per the EPA the national municipal (commercial and residential) recycle rate is 32 percent; sadly the municipal recycle rate in Colorado last year was 16 percent. Lyons municipal recycle rate in 2021 was 14 percent. We know we can do better.

Local trash haulers offer curbside recycling, making collection and pickup extremely convenient. In addition, we have a local recycle dropoff located at 198 2nd Ave., across from the Bohn Park entrance. This facility is provided by Boulder County and the Town of Lyons. Comingled recycling and cardboard can be dropped off daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Remember that it is illegal to leave any other materials at the dropoff center.

And how about your trips to the Lyons Post Office? Of course, you can take the mail home to sort and recycle. There are two bins provided in the PO lobby for recucling only. Please remove any plastic cards and covers (like a plastic bag cover) before placing the unwanted mail, flyers, and magazines in the bins. Following these guidelines will help the PO staff recycle these materials.

A great resource for recycling in Boulder County is available online and as an app at: https://ecocycle.org/guides-and-

resources/popular-tools/a-z-recycling-guide/. The Lyons Sustainable Futures Commission (SFC) was formed to support and increase sustainable practices in our community and to continuously improve the environmental stewardship of the Town and its citizens. The SFC strives to inspire, motivate, and lead the community towards a future that is increasingly resilient and locally sustainable by reducing human imWeller pact on environmental systems. Thank you for your focus and commitment to take this simple step to help us move to a more sustainable and healthful planet. We can and must do better.

Dawn Weller is a longtime resident of Lyons and member of the Sustainable Future Commission.

Winter happenings in Lyons

By Kim Mitchell Redstone Review

LYONS – Thank you, Lyons, for all your effort and enthusiasm for this year’s Parade of Lights. It was a great weekend to celebrate the festivities in Lyons including the Holiday Artisan Market and the Parade of Lights.

We also want to thank our committed sponsors: the Lyons Community Foundation, Kissinger and Fellman, Ramey Environmental Compliance, CEMEX, Consor Engineering and Laura Levy Group-Coldwell Banker. Their support ensures a fun, family event.

The parade and entries were super. Congratulations also go to this year’s entries and winners.

Most Spirited: DandeLyons Brigade; Best Use of Lights: George’s Towing; Best Representation of Theme: Lyons Portable Welding; Overall: Mayama/Laura Levy GroupColdwell Banker.

Hopefully you’ve been able to stroll through town and enjoy the holiday lights along Main Street and in Sandstone Park. Maybe you’re planning some family time along with some local shopping at our great restaurants and shops. ‘Tis the season to explore and share in all Lyons has to offer.

As the days grow shorter and the nights last longer, there are plans for more winter events. The fun and festivities continue into the winter season, and we plan for opening the ice-skating rink and adding three Winter Wonderland Concerts, which is a nice way for our community to get outside and gather in the longer winter months.

In early February, the Old Man Winter Rally will return to Lyons and will be based in Bohn Park. New this year at the event is both a 5K and the traditional 10K running route. Perhaps you’re including a running plan in your New Year’s resolutions. A local race could be the way to go.

Whatever your winter plans include, we hope to see you at our local gathering places or events which bring the community together, sharing ideas, stories and a positive vibe.

Happy Holidays!

Kim Mitchell is Director of Communications and Community Relations for the Town of Lyons. Mitchell has called Lyons home since 2009.

455 Main Street, downtown Lyons 303-823-5225 • www.StVrainMarket.com

Sandwiches, Soup, Fresh Bread, Homemade Sausage, Pies and more…

Hours: Mon-Sat 8am-8pm • Sun 8am-7pm