Friday morning, most of us will be looking bleary-eyed and slightly hungover at a the first day of a New Year, and the start of a new decade. (At least if most of us will be. Some will contend that it’s not really a new decade until 2011, but those people also won’t be dealing with hangovers since no one likes to invite them to New Year’s parties.) And as we start to piece together the events of the previous evening to determine if it all went well, or to work out how long to avoid routine traffic stops until the statute of limitations has elapsed, there’s a very slim chance you might even remember what your New Year’s resolution might have been.
Even though I’m not much of a drinker, I generally can’t remember my New Year’s resolutions. Part of the reason is that I tend to make them up on the spot, forget to write them down, and am generally not waiting for an excuse like “Tomorrow I’ll have to think about dating my checks differently” to change something in my life. As a result, my resolutions are lame, and it’s arguably avoiding the real purpose of a resolution, which is to tackle something new and challenging in the year ahead.
So, given that this site is all about keeping it local, it seems fitting to suggest that we come up with some locally oriented New Year’s resolutions. That’s the Big Idea this week.
Of course, in my case I’m somewhat limited in what I can do. I already write several times a week on local topics. I buy local coffee, eat at local restaurants, sip locally brewed beers and generally try to support local causes and businesses. As a result, almost any locally relevant resolution I could come up with would basically be me going back to my old tricks, and “resolving” to do what I’m already doing.
So, this year, I’m resolving to do something to do something that actually makes me uncomfortable: Being visible. You see, although I’ve been a fairly active advocate and booster for Spartanburg, I’ve been very reluctant to do so in a public manner, the vast majority of it coming from behind a keyboard. Sure, I’ve done a few video blogs, but when it comes to actually being out in public and speaking, I’ve done zilch. I’ve never spoken to either City or County Council, even on topics I care about, even though most meetings pass without any public commentary. I’ve never participated in one of the HUB-BUB’s Talk20 events or Show Up For Spartanburg.
In 2010, my local resolution is to step away from the computer, get out into the fresh air, and be more public in my efforts to show that Spartanburg Matters.
What about you? Do you have a local New Year’s resolution? Will you use the downtown bike lanes? Will you read some local literature? Will you buy local produce, or support a local business (even if it means paying a slightly higher price)?
Steve Shanafelt
Your only supposed to make one’s you know you are going to break. That’s what John Tesh says anyway. Mine is to be more frugal. But I have been working three months on a plan, so I can’t really break that. I also wrote out a meal plan. So I can’t break the “lose weight’either. Oh yes…I know then…I also said recently that I was going to clean up my colorful vocabulary. Ha ha ha ha ha! Fishsticks!
You could make it local by replacing naughty words with local euphemisms. As in, “That girl is so mean! She’s a total bitc … I mean, Beacon. She’s a complete and total Beacon … a plenty.” Anyone who doesn’t like you can just Woodruff off.
What an interesting idea – and if you don’t like it, you’re full of Cowpens!
A local New Year’s resolution – that’s a clever challenge. I need to figure out a better way to contribute to the community myself – along with finishing the two book projects I have underway – though those both have local ties. If finding my niche can be a resolution, I guess that’ll have to be it.
ha ha… yeah, i’ve been trying to start already…but it just seems LAME! “eat crap and die!” “go to heck!” your a real a-hole ( which i think still counts as cussing.)Everytime I try and stop, it comes out like I did a time warp to the 50′s! Oh fiddle de dee. ( I did say that too… oh the shame)
Wise man, that John Tesh.
My New Year’s resolution (however not local) is to never utter that sentence again.
he! don’t you dare bash the tesh! Did you know…..
OK: here are my locally-inspired New Year resolutions…hope you’ll join me in them!
1. Take one Saturday a month and spend it in a different one of the many small-towns in Spartanburg County–patronizing their shops, eateries, exploring the local area, etc. It could be taking the scenic route up 176 to Landrum to explore their wondeful downtown gift shops, do some antiquing, and catch a bite at the Hare and the Hound–or maybe a day exploring Walnut Grove Plantation with a stop in Woodruff for a late lunch, ice cream or even hot tea.
2. Try to watch a WSPA newscast every evening–realizing how cool it is that one of the three major network newscasts in the Upstate/WNC media market is out of Spartanburg (plus you get to keep up on local news stories, too).
3. Pick one (or more) local institutions of good eating that are woven into the history of Spartanburg and that you’ve never been to, and eat there! (for me, it’s going to be The Skillet…never been there after all these years).
I love all yours…and everytime I pass the skillet I say I am going to eat there..and that sugar place drive inn thing…let us know how it is! …if you beat me to it…bwuuu ha ha ha!
Ok as I kinda sorta blew off my New Year’s resolution in my column, I’ll give a serious one.
1. Try every flavor of Little River’s coffee that they offer. Good thing, I’m already partway through the list. Promote that coffee shamelessly and give it as gifts (hmm, doing that already) See how easy resolutions are?
2. Try every flavor of RJ Rockers brew. I’ve liked the two I’ve tried so far, and have given it as a gift as well.
3. my more serious one. Be more of a voice for the non-profits out there, especially ones that benefit families and kids.
didn’t we have a like button? LIKE.
It is the stars. Click on them and you can rate the comment Like I just did yours.
Here’s one:
Switch your funds to community banks out of big banks. I plan on doing it in the next couple of weeks.
Ive used local credit unions for years. My mortgage is through a big bank, but it is not worth the cost to switch, as I have a good fixed rate and not that many years to pay it off.
I’m planning to make progress on finishing my geomatics degree and start working on my book.
My resolution is to be the best person/citizen/mom/partner/human/employee/activist/friend/daughter/neighbor/etc. that I am able to be with my time and talents.
Broad enough to cover many contingencies – enough wiggle room to not feel like a total schmuck when I drop a ball or two. If I get too specific “lose 10 pounds” or “stop swearing” or “vacuum and dust every month” (LOL) I fail miserably and blow it all off.
Actually, my visualization of my life is of a vaudeville-esque plate spinner. Anyone remember seeing these performers on variety shows back in the day?
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afLq5dYFWK4&feature=fvw)
Oh My Daniel Morgan – the mom plate is on a major wobble – run spin, spin, spin….For Beacon’s Sake! Now the job plate is tumbling – run catch it! Deal’s Market, that was close! Well, Thai Taste, Wild Wings, Groucho’s! there goes the activist plate – for the love of Hub Bub, get in in gear, you W.O.Ezell look-alike!!!
I’m digging the local swear-subs! Thanks for the idea!