4 minute read
Tales From the Quarter
By Debbie Lindsey
New Year, New Goals
The ancient Babylonians have been credited as the first folks to make New Year’s resolutions. Of course every culture likes to lay claim as the first to do this and that. But let’s just agree that making resolutions is not a new idea, and lord knows, it has been exhausted over and over every year.
We make grandiose plans for self improvement at the end of the calendar year and with great earnestness, implement them on the first day of January—unless of course, one is too hung over from the New Year’s Eve party hours earlier. So we nurse our party wounds, watch some football, eat black-eyed peas and cabbage, and begin the next day with vim and vigor. This is a common game plan and a good one, except we often aim too high.
Often I have set rather lofty goals deemed important and then, if I can’t reach them, I give up, feel the need to berate myself, and there I am with a new obstacle to overcome—low self-esteem.
Last month, I wrote of empathy and have been seasoning my resolution ideas with this ingredient. I am going to suggest that instead of the usual “self improvement” goals (i.e. weight loss, exercise, less drinking, more yoga, etc.) we focus on improving someone or something else’s world. And, most importantly (in my humble assessment), start small—make what you pick to improve doable and even easy. Yes, easy.
There is no shame in striving for improvements that are attainable and easily accomplished. Remember, most New Year’s Resolutions (NYR) fail because they do not fit into our everyday routine, budget, or interest. Find a project, person, or a bit of nature that you have the ability to help.
Are you computer/tech/web savvy? Then donate an hour a week to fund raising or campaigning. Help a struggling entrepreneur build his website. If you are a “people person,” consider reaching out to that shut-in/house-bound neighbor, who might be terribly lonely and visit them or offer to run an errand for them, even dropping them a greeting card with a few kind words every day. I have a friend in a nursing home that I have totally allowed to drift to my mental back-burner. He doesn’t live here but mail is still a treat to receive. Letters, a box of sweets, a phone call are all easy habits I plan to make a part of my routine. Procrastination is my problem. I think I will sit one day and address a month’s worth of envelopes and have them stamped and ready to pop in the mail. It’s so easy but developing a routine is what will make it happen.
We face many problems within our community and often these issues are above our pay grade, meaning we don’t have the means as individuals to fix the city’s infrastructure (streets, powerlines, sewers and water systems). Don’t get me started on our town’s politics, and lack of social and environmental policies and services. However we—you and I— have the ability to make a huge difference in quality of life just outside our front door. The removal of litter is within our means. Litter truly impacts the quality of our lives. It encourages all forms of neighborhood and community disrespect, even crime. A littered street shows a lack of oversight and sends a message that anything goes. A little trash becomes more trash and then vandalism and graffiti are given the green light to move in, and graffiti should not be confused with murals, as fabulous muralists have added much beauty and creativity to our New Orleans’ cityscape.
If your resolution list includes litter abatement, pick an area that is small. Be consistent, and bite your tongue when overcome with the urge to curse someone out for not helping or for littering. You will never recruit neighbors to assist if you shame them. Encourage others by example and compliments. Sounds corny? Maybe. But alienating folks never wins. For example, instead of scolding a dog walker for not pooper-scooping, just offer them a bag with a simple comment such as, “Don’t ya just hate it when you forget your bags? Here’s one for you.” Of course your inside voice may scream with abandon, “You lazy lard ass. Pick up your shit and stop embarrassing your poor dog.” The same goes for litter. Be proactive and encourage folks to want to help by being a good neighbor. And, again, don’t try to clean an entire block—start with the street/sidewalk in front of your home or place of business.
If you feel passionate about a cause, yet unable to write a check or grow your credit card debt, then give your time. Just a few hours a week at a food bank, nursing home, grass roots politics, and/or animal shelter. If you are a cat lover, then helping community cats (feral/homeless) by volunteering with a group or a neighbor can be very rewarding. Contact the SPCA, local veterinary hospitals, and animal welfare activists for information.
The bottom line is to find an attainable goal and make it about something other than you. Inadvertently, in doing so, you actually will be giving yourself a boost, karmic brownie points, and a better sense of worth. And that’s a good thing because the better we are, the more we have to contribute to others.
A Mardi Gras Party in a Box!
Haydel’s King Cake package has all the ingredients for a Mardi Gras party: A shipper size king cake (serves 35 based on a 1” slice), a pack of French Market Coffee and Chicory, a pack of Beads & Doubloons, a King Cake History Scroll, and this year’s porcelain collectible(while supplies last)
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