Six resolutions for the new year: make 1997 your best year ever!

The new year. Most of us see it as time for change a time to set new goals, make new plans. This is the time of year we reflect on the past, on where we have been, and look ahead to the future, to where we are going. Consider these six ideas a guide to making 1997 a healthier, happier year for yourself, your family, and your community.

Think Positively

In 1997 I will have a more positive outlook.

Have you ever spent a day with a truly negative person? Do you know someone who doesn't like anything and complains about everything? We've all had such experiences. Nothing can ruin a good time as quickly as a grump.

Dwelling on negatives can lead to depression and an unbalanced view of life. But cultivating a positive attitude can help us to see joy in the little things. It is important to see our struggles and hardships as challenges.

Use difficult times as opportunities for personal growth and change. Control your thoughts do not let them control you. "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about these things" (Philippians 4:8, NIV).(*)

Have Fun

In 1997 I will balance work, leisure, relaxation, and spiritual activities.

Do you come home from work unable to interact with the family? Do you spend evenings with the TV rather than playing with the kids or sharing with your spouse?

As adults we often become work-centered and lose sight of the importance of play. As "workaholics" we sometimes fail to spend time with our families. Play is a way to refresh the body and mind so that you can return to work and see life from a new perspective.

A wise man once said, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NKJV).([dagger]) There is a time to work, but we must also make time for play.

Fitness Counts

In 1997 I will begin and maintain an exercise program.

Is your idea of sports and recreation watching a game on television? We all know that regular exercise is essential to a healthy lifestyle. Since the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19), exercise can do wonders not only for the body, but for the spirit as well. Activity can rejuvenate muscle cells and revive energy when you are emotionally sapped. Relieve stress and reduce tension by exercising it away. Exercise tones the body. Aerobic exercise builds the heart.

To be effective, however, exercise must be enjoyed. If activities give you pleasure, you will be motivated to continue doing them. Plan an exercise program around things you like to do. Because weather and conditions change it is a good idea to include all four seasons in your plan. Fall and spring are good times for walking, while summer is for swimming, boating, and ball games. Winter is more conducive to activities such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or tobogganing with the kids. Do yourself a favor and begin an exercise program--one that will work for you!

Chill Out

In 1997 I will take time to relax and enjoy the simple things in life.

As you walk, can you stop and smell the flowers? Are you able to enjoy the stillness, or do thoughts and worries of work and family crowd in?

It is important to learn to "turn off" nervous tension that otherwise can drain and deplete your energy, resulting in exhaustion. Inability to deal with stress can use up nutrients, deplete the body's strength, and leave the nervous system "turned on."

I once had a friend who endured a stressful year at college. Reflecting on the experience, she realized her biggest problem--the cause of all the stress, headaches, physical ailments, and emotional instability--was a simple lack of sleep.

Sleep, rest, and relaxation are more important than we realize. In our high-speed world we often forget this and use chemicals (such as caffeine and sugar) as a crutch to keep awake and alert. Unfortunately, such abuse catches up to us.

We should not undermine our need for rest and relaxation. These are skills that can be learned and practiced. In our high-stress culture, we not only should but also must take time to relax. Even something as simple as taking a slow, deep breath in a tense, nerve-racking situation can help cool you down. On a summer day, relax outdoors in the sun or sit in the woods by a stream and listen to the water's melody. It is a good idea to take a few minutes every day for relaxation "exercises." Set aside the guilt you feel because you could be doing something "constructive," and take time out to relax.

The best antidote for the "stressed out" mentality is to learn to rest in God. Jesus calls us to bring our burdens and lay them at His feet. He will give us rest. The best advice I've seen on this subject is "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything" (Philippians 4:6, TLB).[double dagger]

Whole Foods = Wellness

In 1997 I will reduce my intake of fats, sugars, and processed foods, replacing them with tasty, nutritious, high-fiber foods. I will increase the number of servings of vegetables, fruit, and grains.

Again, balance is the key; a balanced diet will supply all the building blocks your body needs to run efficiently. Good nutrition is a must if we desire to cleanse, repair, maintain, and strengthen our body and mind. God provides us with good things to eat (Psalm 136:25), but we must consciously choose nutritious foods. We also need to decrease the amount of processed foods, fast foods, junk foods, fats, sugars, and other empty calories.

Whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables supply many of the vitamins and minerals our body needs. Even after the USDA issued its new Food Guide Pyramid, Americans are eating less than half of the recommended vegetable and fruit servings and only about a third of the recommended number of whole-grain servings.

More than 60 million Americans now use food supplements such as vitamins and minerals to augment their diet. Excessive reliance on supplements, however, can lead to nutritional irresponsibility. Remember that supplements, though sometimes helpful, cannot make up for a junk-food diet.

Get Involved

As a responsible citizen I will work to enhance the quality of life not just for myself, but also for others, by taking action in my community.

Once you create a positive lifestyle and improve the quality of life for your immediate family, you become aware of the needs of others.

Jesus, our model, came to earth as a servant; we need to take the clue and serve one another. By getting involved in your community, nation, and world, you can make a difference. Become a foster grandparent or take in a fresh-air child for a week in the summertime. Through organizations such as Literacy Volunteers of America you can teach English or reading skills to someone, enabling them to learn and find gainful employment. Spend a week ministering to the homeless. Fight for land and water conservation. The opportunities are endless and all around you. Seek them out and get involved! Yvonne Fast writes from Lake Clear, New York.

(*) Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright [C]1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers

([dagger]) Texts credited to NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright [C] 1979, 1980, 1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

([double dagger]) Verses marked TLB are taken f rom The Living Bible, copyright [C] 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Ill. Used by permission.