Happy New Year. Thank you Arion Wine Company for the gorgeous Bollinger, the big year 2004, it was indeed powerful, sophisticated and complex in style closing a decent 2015 and heralding a stellar 2016. What shall we talk about today? Let’s discuss New Year’s Resolutions. You know they are doomed to failure, because most of them revolve around me-me-me. Lose weight, is big, exercise more and stop smoking, are popular, remove makeup before falling asleep, brush better and floss, things like that are on everyone’s mind. But, after a week or two of religious adherence to diet and exercise regimes, resolve fades. Why? Talking to a friend recently, it became clear to me that we have to make those resolutions about other people, not about us, then they have a chance to live longer. My friend Ellen shared her three resolutions, the ones she was going to keep in 2016, and I would like to share them with you: She said that she will tip generously and say thank you to any toilet cleaning lady she meets, in public restrooms. She added that she will listen intently and be fully present when her father calls, instead of tuning him out after rolling her eyes. She also declared she will enjoy her house more, and worry less about dishes in the sink and dust under the sofa, entertaining friends and family members as if cleaning takes care of itself. Wow, those are great. So please share your new year’s resolutions with me, and make them about other people, not about you!
Another good idea, always amazing: My friend Janet just paid it forward the other day, when sitting in a local restaurant in Oranjestad, she noticed a woman with two little girls, they debated what to share and checked out the prices. Janet finished her salad, paid for it, paid for the woman and the two kids’ meal, and told the waitress to tell the trio to pay it forward!