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A plan for good health in 2008

State Senator James Barcia's New Year's Resolutions reflect his intentions to be healthy in 2008.

"My New Year's Resolution is the standard resolution many people adopt. I intend to eat and drink less, exercise more regularly and be in shape for the festival/parade season beginning with the Michigan Sugar Festival."

State Representative Terry Brown shares his Resolutions

1. Appreciate each day. I have received so many blessings, yet how is it that I still find so much to complain about? I want to find and share things that are good each day.

2. Take responsibility for doing what is right. A few weeks ago, I came home after a tough couple of weeks in Lansing very frustrated with the "system," which often seems unresponsive to common sense solutions. After meeting with people here in the district, I decided that the system is what it is, and that it was up to me to find effective ways to positively impact it. The next week went so much better, because of this change in attitude. I found myself more action-oriented and a lot less frustrated.

3. Be more active with my family. My family has had to make many adjustments with me out of town so much. And even when I'm back here, I've kept myself busy. My wife Carol has been incredible doing both her work and much of mine around the house. This year I plan to keep my work in perspective. I can become a better legislator and a better person if I find ways not to miss these important years with my family.

Our Prosecutor's plans for 2008

Huron County Prosecutor Mark Gaertner's resolutions are only two in number, but each may carry a high degree of difficulty with his schedule.

His resolutions are: "Visit my mother more often and get more sleep."

Sheriff Kent D. Tibbits strives to....

Actually, I don't have just one (New Year's Resolution) but several.

*The first, like many others, is to get more exercise and lose weight. I've made that one for the last 50 years and I'm still waiting for results! When it comes down to it, I do get a lot of exercise, but I truly enjoy eating too.

*Spend more time with family and friends. They are both very important to me. Life is so busy; sometimes we need to just spend more time with the ones we love.

*Volunteer more. This is something I love doing but cannot always find the time to do it. Showing others that you care by helping them out.

*Strengthening relationships. This resolution is aimed at staying positive, having self-respect and giving attention to others while seeking to maintain a good relationship with them. This would involve both give and take measures.

*Be a mentor. Being able to take someone under your wing showing them different things in life that we basically take for granted. Be a positive role model for our youth, as they are our future.

*Last but not least, enjoy life more. Given our hectic, stressful schedules, I believe not only myself, but everyone should take time to smell the roses. Take time to enjoy your successes and enjoy everything and everyone around you.

From the Editorial Staff...

High hopes for 2008

By Molly A. Dando

editor

Though I've already hinted at my New Year's Resolutions in one of my columns, I've agreed to put in a formal list. Here are my resolutions:

*Keep trying to eat less and move more. It is working!

*Keep checking myself when I see clouds instead of sun.

*Keep using my Sleep Apnea machine-what a difference!

*Keep my worrying to a minimum. Waste of time!

*Keep my hopes high for a bright future.

*Keep my friends and family near.

*Keep saying, "Thank you" for all my blessings.

Health and happiness in 2008

By Chris Ogryski

Sports editor

Most people like to make New Year's Resolutions, but I'm not a big fan of them.

I know my wife was really into the idea around the millennium and for several years after, but I guess I never really saw the point. I mean let's be honest, how many people actually keep them at all?

I know for years I always made it my goal to lose weight when the new year began and that never really happened. I'm still as husky... no... chunky... no... cuddly as ever.

With that in mind, I thought I would try and make some practical resolutions this year that I actually have a chance to keep. With that in mind, here we go:

1) I resolve not to make more than five resolutions this year (including this one), because trying to make any more than that is just a waste of time.

2) I resolve to eat better in the new year by cutting back on carbs, eating less fast food and extracting French Fries from my diet and realize I'll ruin my progress each week by ingesting a Red Bull or two (probably five).

3) I resolve to make an effort to get in touch with at least a couple of my "long-lost" friends from high school. I realize that likely means I will e-mail them once and if they don't respond, I will talk about calling them, e-mailing them again or writing them off completely, but won't have time to do any of them.

4) I resolve to get physically fit, not just to lose weight, but to get in good enough shape to run or jog a mile or two. In reality, I know this means two or three straight days on the treadmill where I push myself real hard, get shin splints and let a few days of recovery turn into about 360.

5) I resolve to vacuum the basement steps and carpet, as well as sweep the laundry room, sometimes in the next 12 months. This item has been on my "Honey-Do list" since September and just won't go away.

A busy new year

BY JOHN BONKE

Staff Writer

My No. 1 New Year's resolution is to spend more time with my family. Nothing is better than watching a video the whole family enjoys like "High School Musical" or old favorite classics like "A Muppet Christmas Carol," "A Charlie Brown Christmas," "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" or "The Wizard of Oz." Of course, popcorn, with butter and salt, is a must. Playing Uno or Swap is fun and the next one for us to try is Phase 10. Mexican Train Dominoes looks like it would be fun.

For me, personally, another important resolution is to get on track and stay on track listening through the entire Bible on audio CDs in one year. I've seen an MP3 player with a pre-programmed schedule. Out of my budget, but still a great idea.

Speaking of budgets, I want to find time to read more from Dave Ramsey, Howard Dayton, and the late Larry Burkett. I have found a great amount of wisdom in their books on budgets.

Another "biggie" for me is I need to go to Thumb Office Supply and purchase an old-fashioned, lo-tech card file. Isn't it amazing with all of the hi-tech gizmos and gadgets great ideas are still great ideas?

But having said that, I still want to keep on learning all about high technology - especially computers and digital photography. There's always something new to learn in hi-tech.

With the elections coming up this year, I need to find out more about the candidates. Too often one item of information is just like one jigsaw puzzle piece - because it's the whole picture that is important.

One thing I have learned is to try not to take on too much. There are only 24 hours in any given day. But it's not so much if the glass is half empty or full - it's what you do with the water that counts. I'm beginning to understand the phrase - "Do what you can with what you have where you are."

Sure, I'd love to have the time for many other activities - but another phrase comes to mind - "A jack of all trades, but a master at none."

Should I say: "Have a great year"? No, I'll simply say: "Make it a great year!"

Next year will be different

By Dawne Prochilo

Staff Writer

The New Year is upon us and this is the time of year when you make your resolutions to change something in your life to make it better.

I've only made resolutions twice in my life and both times I failed.

So I've thought long and hard on this and I've decided to make this year a banner year and succeed.

There are two areas of my life that I want, and need, to change.

The first is being organized. I am a jumble of papers, notes, lists and piles. I have papers scattered throughout our entire home. Piles tipping over on the file cabinet and sticky notes hanging from every hard surface.

I need to clean this up. I spend almost as much time looking for notes than I do actually writing or typing.

If I took the time I play "search and find" and, instead, were actually writing I would be more productive.

The second area I want to ‘clean up' is my need to develop better communication and listening skills.

My husband claims I don't listen to him. He says when I hear his voice I tune him out.

Not true.

I do listen. I just have too many ideas and thoughts in my mind to actually pay attention.

In college one of my instructors taught us the difference between listening and hearing. Listening is when the other party has your complete, undivided attention. Hearing is when you're coherent enough to know someone is talking but you don't completely comprehend his or her words.

I believe I hear my husband more than I listen to him.

I know what he's talking about is important to him and I need to make sure it's important to me. I expect him to listen to me when I'm talking so I need to show him the same appreciation and respect.

I want to achieve these resolutions this year and I'm determined to accomplish just that. The main problem I foresee is that I can procrastinate...I'm infamous for saying, "later."

Hmmm...maybe I should have "stop procrastinating" at the top of my New Year's Resolution List.