ISSUE 18 - EDITORIAL

Editorial

It seems the topic this time of year is familiar things; resolutions and getting ready for taxes. Well, at least one of the two will not be overlooked. Which begs the idea of the buddy system. We take care of our taxes based on what? A large part of the government that will spank us if we don’t pony up.
Which begs another question; why we don’t follow through on resolutions? You know as well as I do that it’s because we lose sight of things. We are creatures of habit. It’s tough to keep up with them. Sometimes, we’re just plain lazy. It happens. The trick is self discipline. Don’t rely on some government office to keep you in line. You’re capable. Make that a challenge for yourself, to see if you can beat yourself this time around. See those challenges through. And then reward yourself with a pecan pie.
A lot can happen in a year. You can change jobs, lose and gain friends, find forgotten money in a jacket or meet the person to spend the rest of your life with. It’s so much easier, whether young or very old, to stay inside when you’re feeling down, unmotivated. It’s difficult, but extremely necessary, to get your body out of the house, move around and interact with others. Friends are important, whether it’s two or fifty. Activity is key. And that’s where randomness, my favorite, falls into place. Going somewhere and running into people by chance or discovering things one might not otherwise. Eating a sandwich in a new place is much better than your house sometimes.
The house can always use something new. Merely painting the walls, or one wall, can make a significant difference. Adding color into a familiar world forces us to look at things in a fresh way and that subtle adjustment alters cognitive patterns. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on paint either. At stores such as Lowe’s, there are usually quarts and gallons of paint in varying colors that are left over and can be purchased at low cost. There’s enough that sometimes you can find a decent color in which to use around the house or apartment. If you don’t want to go that far, simply rearrange the living quarters. Change is good. Social interaction is good. Go to the bookstore and read the magazines. Or, you can take someone’s grandmother to play bingo. Short of visiting a crack house, immersing yourself in new environments is always beneficial.
We say goodbye to 2006 and appreciate what has happened, making new friends, accomplishing goals and falling in love, and regret what has been lost to us, more time, good friends and hopefully little else.
There’s a lot to look forward to in the coming year, the Superbowl, Spring, the water getting warmer, the ACC tournament, bathing suits on the beach, the return of Valient Thorr, birthdays and so much more we cannot plan for.
Best wishes for 2007.

- Brian Tucker