RESOLUTE (Posted for New Year's Day!)

'Tis the season to make resolutions!!  Ok, ok,  so I know it drives half of us crazy...  hmmm... maybe even more than that.  But I thought this would be wise to digest together, assuming there are no corporate resolutions regarding increasing exercise or shedding pounds.  Granted, personally I always embrace the exercise initiative, but I thought in true "Intramuralist-style" I would humbly offer some resolutions for us all...  

10.  Let's dismiss the politically popular phrase "failed administration" from each of our vocabularies.  No administration has been a complete and utter failure.  Unfortunately, this phrase seems more an arrogant, self-serving PR tactic, spurred on by disagreement.  Let's each be "big enough" people to extinguish this disrespectful phrase.

9.   Let's commit to respecting President Obama, including his wife and children.  Admittedly, this will look different for each of us.  For some it may look like adoration; for others, it may mean refraining from negative speak.  I would challenge each of us to dig a little deeper, recognizing that respect means "to esteem" or "regard highly."  Disagreement and respect are not mutually exclusive; it's ok to do both.  Our respect may then prompt us to say a prayer or two...  praying for wisdom and discernment.

8.  Let's drink more champagne.  Oops... just thinking of New Year's Eve... 

7.  Let's speak frankly about political correctness.  We owe one another respect for differing opinions; we can be sharpened by such.  However, when people mandate acceptance of an opinion instead of tolerance of a viewpoint, that is no longer "correctness."  All that means is that we are only asking one party to be respectful.

6.  Let's exercise more...  oops...

5.  Let's commit to not taunting the non-professional athlete.  Remember that includes college competitors, even if they do play for our alma mater's arch nemesis...  especially during bowl season and the never-ending BCS confusion.

4.  Let's invest in the things that mean the most.  If it truly is "the economy, stupid," then we need to be prudent about our investments...  how we disperse our talents, money, and time...  investing in that which produces the greatest joys in life...  valuing relationship over things.

3.  Let's all agree to accept no appointment by the current Illinois Governor.  (Sorry, but until he becomes a little less self-serving and/or defiant, he will continue to grace the pages of multiple blogs.)

2.  Let's value celebrity less.  Since when has fame become an appropriate substitute for valid credentials?  If one more celebrity wants to tell half the country why they're misguided for having a specific, political opinion, then perhaps we should encourage half the country that there's one less movie career to support.

And 1.  Let's live more intentionally.  Whether it be about your passion or profession...  your family or your faith...  your health or your hobbies...  remember that life is short, so let's use our time wisely.  Let's be intentional.  Let's be intentional about how we interact and sharpen one another.  That's what we're put on this planet to do.

Happy New Year, friends!  Thanks for your faithful support.  You can look forward to continued lively, respectful discussions in the year to come.  As for now, well, I'm off to exercise.

AR