Do you have any dreams? I mean the wide-awake dreams, the dreams of what you want to do and experience in the future.
I thought about this when I remembered the James Dean’s quote, “Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die tomorrow.”
How often do we dream about our future and what we want it to be? Many times, I’ve mentioned living in the present, the “now” — but now that we’ve entered a new year, what do you want this new year to be like? What do you want to do and accomplish? What are your dreams?
For me, I could dream of being as flexible and strong as I was at 30. Okay, I know that’s NOT going to happen! But I can dream of being steadier on my feet and having more energy — so I can at least keep up with my wife while walking through the airport corridors.
And I can dream that I could finally understand how to use all the settings on the new dishwasher other than “on” — and the settings on the new EV, the washing machine, my smartphone, and my hearing aids … Or maybe I can just dream that everything wasn’t so complicated!
With the holiday’s excitement over, and winter’s cold keeping us inside, this is a good time to rest, reflect, refocus — and dream. And to think about how to live those dreams.
Because “dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.”
A common practice is writing New Year’s resolutions. It can be starting a movement class to improve your balance, or learn how to operate the dishwasher — once I find the owner’s manual!
So, for this new year, here are some useful tips I’ve found about writing and accomplishing your New Year’s resolutions to help you live your dreams in this new year.
1. Write your resolution down and be specific. Instead of “make new friends,” describe how, such as “start a movie group” or “join an exercise class.”
2. Review your resolution constantly so you won’t forget.
3. Hold yourself accountable. Don’t make excuses.
4. Think big. Make your resolution inspiring and exciting.
5. Or think small. Something simple and doable.
6. Separate your resolution, no matter how small, into manageable tasks, because how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
7. Work on your resolution every day. It is easier to do something consistently than to skip days.
8. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. The best exercise is the one you will actually do.
9. As mentioned before, don’t make excuses, BUT if you keep breaking your resolution, no use constantly beating yourself up. Try a different approach that will get you to the same goal.
As Carl Bard once said, “Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
•••
Brain Tease — short and sweet. What kind of running means walking?
•••
Now that I am back from a wonderful visit with my daughter in San Diego, it is time to mention everyone who submitted correct answers for the “Remember When” questions over the last three weeks.
The Graham Kerr cooking show was “The Galloping Gourmet”: Donna Mollet, Judy Kiser, Lana Tepfer, Kim and Jess Birge, Doug Nelson, Rhonda Spies, Eva Summers, Stephen Woolpert, Rebecca Abrams, Dave Lutgens, and Bruce Johnson.
The children’s game, which many readers remember playing, whose object was to be the first to build a three-dimensional bug-like object was Cooties: Donna Mollett, Bruce Johnson, Marny Weting, Dave Lutgens, Jess and Kim Birge, Shelly Hinatsu, Judy Kiser, Rhonda Spies, Rebecca Abrams, Lana Tepfer, Patty Burnet, and Doug Nelson.
As I am writing this, it looks like Rebecca Abrams and I stomped you last week, because I received only one answer from Donna Mollet for “Andy’s Gang”: The name of the children’s television series hosted by the actor Andy Devine, which was broadcast from 1955-1960.
And now for this week.
There is a long history of hospital volunteers dedicating their time to supporting doctors and nurses. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name used for the young female volunteers who were known for the iconic uniforms they wore? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-980-4645, or send it with a 1950s picture of young hospital volunteers in training.
•••
Well, it’s been another week, trying to find the rhyme to the reason. Until we meet again, during this new year, may all your dreams come true.
•••
“I was going to quit all my bad habits for the new year, but then I remembered that nobody likes a quitter.”
—Unknown
•••
Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.
Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) — Wednesdays with music on second and fourth Wednesdays; Mt. Hood Town Hall (541-308-5997) — Tuesdays; Hood River Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center (541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333).
For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services: Goldendale office (509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068), and in Skamania County call Senior Services (509-427-3990).
Commented