Someone posted on Facebook last night , “ Reviewing 2018 resolutions, I have 6 hours to lose 40 lbs. Your selections are solicited.” That is 2018 in a nutshell for me. All the wonderful resolutions that I made last year and the years before were gone as faster than President Trump’s next Chief of Staff. I have only kept one New Year’s resolution in my life and the only reason that happened was because I was cheap. In 1984 Marlboro Reds went up from 75 cents to a 1$ a pack. I was not going to pay a dollar for a pack of smokes. Haven’t had one since. Resolutions pretty much are useless. So is dwelling on 2018. The same things that drive people crazy in 2018 are going to drive you crazy in 2019. I friend of mine told me last night, this was going to be a terrible year because of a monumental birthday she is having this year. They are pretty much all monumental at this point. It’s more of a surprise to me that I have made another year. Okay you say 2018 sucked. How can you make 2019 better? Seems like I made better bad decisions last year. Does that count?

My first suggestion would be to lay off “Talk Radio”.

A day without Rush and all the other so called radio pundits is like a day of sunshine. This includes Fox News, CNN, MSNBC. I quit several years ago after getting worked up every afternoon watching Glenn Beck on Fox. Rebecca threatened to have me committed. I truly do have a better quality of life.

Read more.

Reading is good for the brain. Reading challenges your imagination. Reading reduces stress. I have always been a reader. My grandmother instilled that in me at a young age when we would run up to Pettus Store to get books from the mobile bookmobile. David Baldacci, CJ Box, my favorite Ace Atkins, Ted Bell, Michael Connoly just to name a few are some wonderful authors. Read more.

Listen to music.

The Science Behind Why Music Makes Us Feel so good. Unlike food or sex, music  isn’t necessary for our survival, but it is extremely rewarding and pleasurable. It taps into the same parts of the brain that pleasure from sex and food does. Music  floods the brain with a chemical called dopamine. Try out Jason Isbell and the 400 unit, Band of Heathens, The Mavericks, The Record Company, Margo Price, Sturgil Simpson, Kacey Musgraves. Plus when I listen to music I find myself not turning the tube on nearly as much. Survivor is still on TV?

Volunteer. 

Instead of complaining about GOP or Democrats, Trump or Pelosi and about how crappy 2019 is, do something about it. Make a difference. Volunteer. It will make a difference in your life and you will see that some of your problems aren’t as big as you may have thought. If you have big problems find you a support group with like minded people who you can share with.

Adopt a pet.

There are tons of dogs and cats out there who need you. You can make a difference in the life of a animal. You will find that you actually may want to be around them a helluva lot more than people. Just be careful and don’t adopt a tannish beagle mix, with half a tail who loves to chew everything in sight.

I saw Lukas Nelson (Willie’s Boy) last year and he sang a song that pretty much sums everything up. He said, Turn off the news and build a garden. Do this and you will have a full year. Can I get a amen? Have a great 2019.

“Turn Off The News”

I believe that every heart is kind
Some of them are just a little underused
Hatred is a symptom of the times
Lost in these uneducated blues

I just want to love you while I can
All these other thoughts have me confused
I don’t need to try and understand
Maybe the I’ll turn off the news

Turn off the news and build a garden
Just my neighborhood and me
We might feel a bit less hardened
We might feel a bit more free

Turn off the news and raise the kids
Give them somethin’ to believe in
Teach them now to be good people
Give them hope that they can see
Hope that they can see
Turn off the news and build a garden with me

Trust builds trust
And all that negativity’s a bust
Trust builds trust
Don’t you wanna be happy?

Turn off the news and build a garden
Just my neighborhood and me
We might feel a bit less hardened
We might feel a bit more free

Turn off the news and raise the kids
Give them somethin’ to believe in
Teach them now to be good people
Give them hope that they can see
Hope that they can see
Turn off the news and build a garden with me
Turn off the news and build a garden with me