SENIORS' SAFETY

Here we are saying farewell to another year. For many, this is a time to reflect and a time to plan for change in the New Year. Do people still make New Year’s resolutions? Do resolutions even last much past January?

For those resolving to change in 2008, here are some tips that can make change easier and goals more successful. Remember to create a plan that works for you. Take these clear steps and put them into action.

Step one: Aim low. Set a specific and achievable goal. If you want to lose weight, for example, set your goal for five pounds. Then when you reach it, plan for another five pounds. Be reasonable with what works for you. Do you want to get more exercise? Take on a manageable and enjoyable level. Accept taking small walks three times a week rather than a long one everyday.

Step two: Don’t overload yourself. It’s difficult enough to follow through with one resolution, never mind three or four. Concentrate on something really important to you and put your all of your effort into it.

Step three: Write down your plan and tell everyone you know. Get a close friend on board. Choose someone who wants to see you succeed and will keep you motivated. Be truly accountable to yourself. Be honest and find it inside you to commit to your dream.

Step four: Forgive yourself. This is a big one. Each one of us experiences setbacks everyday. Our response to these setbacks determines whether we succeed in meeting our goals. There’s little point in trying to be a perfectionist.

Step five: Be creative and give yourself appropriate rewards. If your goal is to eat healthier, perhaps you might look into a new recipe book or take a cooking class. If you want to experience less stress, think of what little things can help. Soft music and a burning candle or a hot bath can be just as helpful as joining a yoga class.

Step six: Believe, visualize and keep your eye on the prize. Imagine how it will feel to have accomplished what you set out to do. You may feel thinner, healthier, less worried about the future or more confident with the money you have put away. Most of all, you will feel proud to have invested in yourself or your family.

Why not consider making 2008 the year of no regrets. Take that trip you’ve been dreaming about. Call that friend you have been meaning to contact. Write that book you’ve been thinking about. Take a course. Speak the truth. Learn to dance.

In the wise words of Mark Twain, “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” (Dawn Thomas is Seniors’ Safety coordinator for the Town and Municipality of Digby)