Midwest Memo
All that’s new
by Alan Shultz

An acquaintance and I were stuck in traffic the other day as we made our way towards an early morning meeting. I was driving, she was filling me in on the business at hand. At one point she tried to pinpoint the year a particular event occurred.

“It must have been in ‘92” she said, adding “that was the year my brother and I reconciled.”

Now the subject we were discussing had nothing to do with siblings, conflict or reconciliation. And up until that moment I’d known virtually nothing of this person’s personal life. I didn’t know about a brother or a history of family trouble. But referencing back to that particular year had triggered an important event in her memory. Clearly, 1992 had represented a watershed year for her, a monumental shift on a personal level and thus, the reference to her brother and their reconciliation.

A new year. Right now, from where I sit, 2007 lies ahead fresh with all kinds of possibilities. Why 2007 could be the year for a truly reconciled checkbook, or fewer bills, or better yet, an organized closet. Because the year is new and full of promise there’s time and opportunity to sign up for the writing class I’ve thought about for so long, or get more consistent with the morning exercise I love to hate.

Personally, I’ve never been very big on making new year resolutions. Funny thing though, I think they are a great idea. What could ever be wrong with resolving to do the things one has put off, or regretted or secretly aspired to do?

Ann Landers, the nationally syndicated advice columnist, used to have a great reply when folks wrote to her about regrets of things not tried or not accomplished. Her answer was always pretty much a question, the very same question for anyone who lamented they were too old, or had put off too long or that it was too late for things like finishing college or taking up dancing or finding companionship.

“How old will you be next year if you don’t attempt it?”

Under Lander’s view of things, a new year is just a fresh invitation for another stab at those things that need doing.

Last year a couple headlines caught my eye that speak to this subject.

Marvin Northern got his degree from Baylor University in Texas - at age 100.

A Spanish woman gave birth to twins just before 2006 finished off - she is 67 years old.

Then again, perhaps these particular news items speak more to the question of why we put our resolutions off so long.

Here’s hoping Marvin doesn’t have much in the way of student debt, and hoping too that the mom of twins already started their college fund.

Some time back a friend quoted to me advice from the teachings of a well-known support group. I’m paraphrasing here, but the sentiment was that “there is no situation or problem that can not be made better.” In other words, you can’t solve every problem, can’t make things right or perfect or whole in each and every case. But, you can always help, you can always aide and you can always put some effort into making a bad situation - less bad.

So if I’m committed to a resolution in 2007, it would for me: be less lamentation and more action...on my part.

Thinking back to my acquaintance’s year of reconciliation with her brother, I’m faced with the many possibilities ahead in 2007. How would you like to finish the following sentence:

“Oh, 2007, that was the year...”