Time for RTs to Craft Resolutions
It is almost time for the tradition of making New Year's Resolutions. For some, it is a time of hope and planning for the future, for others a time of dread when they realize they did not complete their resolution from last year. Either way, it is coming soon, so here are some resolutions of mine you can use as an example to help craft yours.
I resolve to drop some weight. Many of us need to do this. I got started last summer, but one of the things I hoped to do when losing weight was improve my eating habits. I have lost weight (about 15 pounds), but my habits are still much the same. I just eat a little less. The biggest thing I did was to cut out soda pop. Doing that alone probably helped me lose more weight than anything.
I resolve to make that treadmill something more than a conversation piece in the living room. My girlfriend and I bought it with the best of intentions. It would help us lose weight, we said. It would help work out my arthritis. It would help keep us young. The fact is, it is collecting dust. Our kids are grown and gone, and other than them coming by on occasion to visit, we are by ourselves. We often look at the treadmill, but neither of us have actually gottem on it in months. I resolve to change that.
I resolve to be a better person. OK, everyone does this one, I know, but I have some real issues I need to fix. First, I loathe politicians. I do not care if they are Republican, Democrat, Independent, or from outer space, I just hate them. They, to me, are the root of all evil, not money. Because of them, I do not have to worry about money because our economy insures that we have none. I am not suggesting that I will like them, but I will try to stop talking so badly about them in public.
I resolve to help my community more. I am black-balled from many things. My county has a smoking cessation program, it keeps track of data for asthma, and is now looking for a community health administrator. Because I am blunt and to the point and do not care about "kissing" the right areas on some local townfolks' bodies, I am not utilized, despite being a smoking cessation counselor, a certified asthma educator, and having a Master's in Health Administration. Couple that with 30 years of clinical experience, and you would think I would be a shoe-in, but my gruff personality cancels out what ever time and talent I may have. I still have no plans of "kissing" anything, but I will try to soften my demeanor some.
Finally, I resolve to improve this blog. Not an easy task. I have asked readers for help, but few have responded. The number of people involved in my polls have decreased over time, and as I look at other bloggers' responses, they, too, are few and far between. I seem to be the only person writing controversial stuff and I thought that would help with the interactive comment, but the fact is it does not seem appealing to you, the reader. No blogger had a response to his or her last blog when I looked this morning. You, the reader, will not tell us what you want, so we guess. My guess is you do not know. I write an opinion blog; everything is strictly my opinion, whether it is about my state society, the NBRC, the AARC, or what ever, it is my opinion. Some of you have agreed, some have not. I like that. We do not have to agree on everything, because that would mean everything was OK, and clearly it is not. I have been called names all year. This does not bother me, either, because you cannot work in a hospital for 30 years and have thin skin. I am coming up with a list of subjects to touch on over the course of the next year. If you would like to have your say, since I write for you, please feel free to contact me. That is how things get better.
In my opinion, the art of blogging is hard. You have to write something someone wants to read, and you have to have readers who take the time to actually sit in front of their computer or printed paper, and respond. It is called communication; one of the very first things we learn about in school, and one of the least practiced arts in the world. This blog is a communication, as are all blogs. Find your blog, read it, and respond to it. You may not always agree with me, but you will always be respected for your opinion, just as I expect to be respected for mine. I love reading your insights; some I can totally understand, and some come with the name-calling like "idiot, moron," or other names you have chosen for me. That's fine. People will read your intelligence level on here, too, and make judgements about both of us.
Make your own resolutions. Resolve to do something to improve the world. Even reading a blog will improve one small part of the world; improve it and you will improve what you get to read. Work on your community, too. Work on your hospital or clinic. Look to see what you can improve, how to improve it, and then do it. That is what New Year's resolutions are all about.
That's just my opinion, Jimmy R. Thacker, MHA, CRT, AE-C. Lexington, MO, passthecoffeepot@yahoo.com .