A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....1-04-07....New Year's Resolutions

January 4, 2006 | Dolly Howard

[DollyCali]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

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~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, GodBlessUSA, Aquamarine~

Is there ever more “written” with hope & more “broken” quickly with regret than the yearly New Year’s Resolutions?

The most common types of resolutions include: weight loss, appearance improvement, bad habit elimination/reduction; human relations improvement.

It is said that 95 percent of the people will break one or more resolutions within the first week & will be discouraged & chuck the whole idea shortly thereafter.

It is not too late to do this for this.. but here are a few practical guidelines to hopefully result in smiles & success rather than disappointment & tears.

Be realistic & put time frames in your resolutions. Make things manageable & measurable. If you break one.. DON’T give up. We are human. We will fail. We can persevere. At the end of the day look with pride at all you DID keep, not negatively dwelling on the one you “blew”. Keep your list posted several key places in your home. Carry a copy with you. Find a buddy who is doing resolutions & share your list so you can encourage each other. One line (here at Finest?) is great. After one month be SMART & rework the list. The goal is a better/happier you.. NOT being a slave to something that is problematic.

NOT: I resolve to lose 100 pounds.
RATHER: I resolve to lose 100 pounds in next 18 months & will lose 6 pounds a month to accomplish this.

NOT: I will eat healthier
RATHER: I will reduce red meat intake to 4- 3 oz portions a week; I will include 3 servings of vegetables a day in my meals; I will have small deserts & only 2 a week. I will incorporate & follow the Macrobiotic; Mediterranean; and Fit For Life Diet daily into my meals

NOT: I will drink alcohol less
RATHER: I will limit my drinks to ____glasses of wine/whatever; ____times a week.

NOT: I will improve my speaking skills
RATHER: I will sign up for an adult speech/debate class or I will register & become active in the Local Toastmasters organization this spring

NOT: I will be nicer to people
RATHER: I will control my temper with __________method.
I will count to 25 silently ANY time I am tempted to say something unkind or in anger.
I will avoid people who trigger bad reactions in me

NOT: I will get married this year
RATHER: I will work on being the kind of person that is lovable. I will identify & correct patterns/habits/appearances that are offensive to others. I will involve myself in activities that draw quality people into my life.

NOT: I will read more this year
RATHER: I will read ONE fiction and ONE non fiction book each month.

NOT: I will watch less TV this year
RATHER: I will limit my TV watching to 6 hours a week. I will NOT watch any news regularly, instead I will use the Internet/Free Republic to learn what is going on.

NOT: I will spend less time at Free Republic
RATHER: I will focus on _____types of threads at FR & spend NO more than ____ hours a day/__________ a week, unless there is a major news event & in that case will double the amount.


NOT: I will be more religious this year
RATHER: I will have a “quiet time” each day before breakfast; I will read my holy scripture in a programmed study for ½ hour a day; I will memorize one Bible verse a day; I will play upbeat Christian music when I do dishes; I will daily after quiet time make a list of Do good things for the day.

NOT: I will look better this year
RATHER: I will exercise 20 minutes daily for toning, strength; shapeliness; I will daily use a GOOD program of skin care for my face; I will give myself or get a professional manicure/pedicure twice a month.

NOT: I will accomplish my dreams
RATHER: I will work one hour a day minimum on the books I am writing; I will find a financial sponsor for the ____project I envision

NOT: I will get organized
RATHER: I will simplify my life by spending ONE hour daily to remove clutter from my home. I will throw those things out immediately or give to a charitable organization; I will spend____ a day organizing my photographs (or) Having better order in my kitchen (or) reworking my workshop/studio/yard…

10-01-06 ~ Hall of Fame #17

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12-29-06 to 1-01-07 Finest New Year's Weekend 01-02-07 Military Monday On Tuesday 01-03-07 Warm Fuzzy Wednesday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[DollyCali]

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

ping for future.

[period end of story]

I resolve to never reply to any post unless treated with the utmost of respect.

[DollyCali]

[DollyCali]

Good one.. AND.. your profile page quickly answered question if you were a guy or gal (Unless you REALLY like rainbows)

Lol

welcome to the Finest! A friendly, NO FIGHTING, thread where we DO respect our friends who visit & chat.

[MEG33]

If I don't make em..I can't break em..LOL

Thanks for the pretty thread..Good advice!

[stopem]

Awwww Meg......;)

LOL

I think I will keep mine private at the moment.Thanks Dolly
for the suggestions of how to be specific when writing goals.This thread was a great idea.

Just one thing tho...I refuse to spend LESS time with my FRiends here on FR ;)

[DollyCali]

Good morning Meg, sistahs, Rus...

This thread was a "little surprise" for even me!

I overslept...usually get up between 4 & 6 each morning. But today it was 7:30. But I figured, that is okay. I can get this thread up - the JH2 threads are a breeze. (I guess I still have a sleep deficit from weekend of R & R.)

Had seen the JH2 note in my FReep Mail.. figuring it was the essay.. WRONG..Instead a "dear dolly" -no essay this week.....normally I can punch a JH2 out in one hour.. well..there was nothing to punch out & nothing in my just waking up brain..semi-panic

well, we do our best.. figured a rerun of Lance or Star Wars would NOT go over too well!!!

Must go to tackle the day now.. will check in when I can - but what I wrote does incorporate much of what I have as my resolutions.

[MEG33]

Use Flower Power For Your Resolutions(Grin)

[DollyCali]

The Canteen had two resolutions threads this week...I have not had time to visit, but if I know the great participants, they will be full of humor, graphics & wisdom!!!!

Here are the two links:

Resolutions Part 1 Mrs. Nooseman, poster

Resolutions Part 2 AZamericonnie, poster

well OF COURSE, you can STEAL borrow some of the good stuff for here...lol!

[DollyCali]

great table & wow..on the link. Thanks!!!

have to feed mom & pets now.. The pets particularly are letting me know they are hungry!!!

[Texagirl4W]

Happy New Year, Dolly. I could probably keep most of those except the last. After all these years, and I've had plenty of them, I'm more disorganized every day. May all Freepers have a safe, blessed, and Happy New Year.

[proud2beconservativeinNJ]

You are the Best....reasonable resolutions on the fly. No one would know you didn't have this thread planned for days. You're hired!!

[MEG33]

I Resolve To "Post" More Flowers.....LOL!

~Good Morning To The Finest~

[The Mayor]

January 4, 2007

Our Dwelling Place

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READ: Genesis 12:1-8

By faith Abraham obeyed . . . . And he went out, not knowing where he was going. —Hebrews 11:8

When Abraham was 75 years old, God called him to leave the land of his father. And so, advanced in years, he departed for the land of Canaan. He was rootless, homeless, "not knowing where he was going" (Heb. 11:8). That was the story of Abraham’s life.

Age brings change and uncertainty. It means transition from a familiar past to an uncertain future. It can mean movement from a family home to a smaller place, to a daughter’s home, to a retirement village, to a nursing home—the "final resort." Like Abraham, some of us make our way from one location to another, always traveling and not knowing where we’re going.

Yet we can be at home in any dwelling, for our safekeeping lies not in the place where we live but in God Himself. We can dwell "in the secret place of the Most High" and "abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (Ps. 91:1). There, in His presence, under His wings, we find refuge (v.4). The eternal God becomes our dwelling place (v.9).

Though our dwelling place here on earth may be uncertain, God will be our companion and friend until our traveling days are over and we reach our heart’s true home—heaven. Until that day, let’s shed the light of God’s lovingkindness on other travelers. 

Someday my earthly house will fall—
I cannot tell how soon ’twill be;
But this I know—my All in All
Has now a place in heaven for me. —Crosby

For the Christian, heaven is spelled H-O-M-E.

Bible in One Year:  Genesis 10-12; Matthew 4

[MEG33]

Amen! Wonderful lesson, Mayor..Thank you for our Daily Bread.

[The Mayor]

Great job and idea Dolly!

[The Mayor]

I said the same thing after I read it Meg.. : )

[MEG33]

;)

[stopem]

Good one Meg, keep'em coming, you do post some gorgeous ones!