The New Year Begins

- Janet Pelz

It’s interesting how my attitude changes towards each New Year. Often I approach it with a surge of energy to tackle goals, usually ones that got lost in the year-end holiday run-up. I’m sort of easing into this one, less intent on accomplishments than on opening up to opportunity.

                              Holding on to Autumn

I think my new attitude is shaped in part by the amazing women I’ve had the opportunity to interview for this site. They’ve taught me that focusing on a path is not necessarily the avenue to fulfillment, especially if it blinds me to other possibilities. I don’t mean to get overly philosophical here. I guess the feeling I have is one of humility. I thought I had it pretty well together, but these women have taught me how much more “together” can be. Sure, I’ll take on some resolutions, but I also hope to find myself in some surprising situations in the next 12 months.

I feel so fortunate to have never had a list of resolutions weighed down with a commitment to stop smoking or to get in shape (since I never started smoking and never stopped exercising). How punishing those pledges must feel at the top of any list. I could only imagine getting to January 7 and having a cigarette and thinking, well crap, I just blew that one!

Without those punitive goals I can approach a new year with creativity and inspiration. I think it would be great if all of us made a collective resolution – imagine that impact! My suggestion? Pledge to help someone get a job this year. Whatever you can offer – editing a resume, providing leads and contacts, offering an informational interview, making a financial contribution to a community job training or job placement organization. And if you’re in the position to offer even a little work, consider hiring a mom part-time. There are so many amazingly qualified and under-employed women who have so much to offer, communication and time management skills at the top of their lists.

It’s tough out there to find work, and for those looking, it’s a yoke worn every minute of the day. While our country is not in the same dire condition as we were when Roosevelt instituted the WPA, we can still appreciate what that surge of employment meant for this country, not just economically, but in the purpose and pride it restored to hundreds of thousands of the chronically unemployed. Each person working supports dozens more. Together, we could be a very, very, very, tiny WPA.

What are your resolutions, hopes, plans for the upcoming year?  Leave your ideas by clicking the red ‘comment’ link below.

Comments

[Sandy Hirsch]

My pledge is to relax more with my family,spend more time reading, to spend less time on the internet and to find a yoga teacher that doesn't drive me crazy.