Robert Gale Ongley

Tag: New Year

  • BE THE ARCHITECT OF A NEW YEAR

    Who do you think you are? The victim of your environment? A pawn in the game of life? A fallen leaf blown here and there by the winds of change? Or are you the creator of your own destiny? The cause rather than the effect?

    Whatever role you play in this world, you can make it better. It may take a great deal of courage and effort if you’re under oppression. It may require incredible persistence if you’re plagued with an addiction. If it’s merely inertia that’s your great enemy, you may need to reach down deep to overcome it. We all have something holding us back. I don’t mean to minimize anyone’s challenges whether they’re internal or external ones. But almost everyone does have the capacity for improving their condition. My hope here is to give you some guideposts for making it happen.

    A Fresh Start

    You’ve probably heard the old saying, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” Taking that truth to heart and applying it to your own set of circumstances can give you a clean slate–at least mentally. With the beginning of a new year, many people are inclined to make a change in their lives. These resolutions usually have to do with something they have been falling short on, something they’ve been wanting to change without success. The new year is a natural place to press restart. I mean, the old year with its imperfections is ending and a brand new year brings brand new, untainted opportunity. For the serious-minded person looking for a change, it’s a chance to start anew. They can draw on the new energy, no matter whether it’s just coming from their own imagination. A fresh start is just what’s needed for many.

    A Decision

    Every action we take begins with a decision. Without it, nothing happens. If you are to break a bad habit or make some other significant change in your life, you will have to make a decision in order to bring about the desired effect. And that decision needs to be strong, unwavering and clear.

    A Plan

    I’m primarily referring to one change at a time, but I know I’ve made several New Year’s resolutions at once for an incoming year. If that’s what you do, then make a plan for each. Of course, there can be some overlap where the same strategy type can apply to multiple resolutions. Feel free to have some repeating instructions for yourself across however many plans you’re drafting.

    Your plan should be sort of a vehicle to take you to your destination, the final goal. You should design it to your own specifications, but I’ll share a few ideas on components I think are important.

    First, your plan will likely consist of a series of steps. This is true even if the goal is simple, as in the case where you want to be a better person in some way. Let’s take the example of being more considerate to others, which may seem like a one-step process. It’s not as easy as it sounds to change your behavior. You may find that you slip right back to old habits despite deciding to operate differently. Here you are hurrying to get in line in front of the mother with a restless infant in her shopping cart full of groceries. You’re on a tight schedule, right? The steps of your plan could include a time study which helps you handle time better and makes it easier to consider others’ needs ahead of yours. If your plan helps you foresee stumbling blocks along your way, your odds of success improve.

    Forgive yourself when those stumbles do occur. Resolve to do better this day. Keep yourself moving forward, even if it’s by baby steps.

    Keep a journal of your progress. Every day, preferably at the end of the day, take stock of how you did on your plan. Recognize where you missed the mark and acknowledge your accomplishments. This will keep you on track and could give you either more determination to do better or pride in what you’ve attained.

    Stay the Course

    Never give up. The year ahead is clay in your hands. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that staying the course doesn’t necessarily mean sticking to the plan even if it turns out to be flawed. If you realize you need to do something different to advance toward your goals, don’t hesitate to tweak away. Also, if you need help with any part of the entire process, seek advice. We’re all connected and your good is their good.

  • WHAT YOU CAN TAKE FROM 2020 INTO THE NEW YEAR

    There’s a lot of talk out there about what a terrible year 2020 has been. For many, it’s been a year of walking through fire. First responders must have that thought, at least from time to time. It’s been a year of adjustments for most of us. Even if you don’t socialize, your life has been disrupted more than usual by newscasts that remind you of the horror of things beyond your control. Fear and anger, disbelief and outrage all have taken a toll on your sanity.

    Nonetheless, we humans are adaptable. We bob and weave as the punches come our way. We head into a new year with some lessons learned and coping mechanisms added. There are changes in routines, improvements in everyday life and new ways of operating that can benefit us in the years ahead. Many are obvious, hopefully some are not and a few haven’t been realized quite yet.

    The Obvious

    One of the first things we heard from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised us to properly wash our hands and not touch our faces with our hands. We had heard that before, but with greater application of these advices, cold and flu numbers are lower than usual.

    People can work from home. Who knew? Well, at least to this scale. Many businesses are sure to use this model more in post-pandemic times. It’s likely to save employers money and help reduce air pollution with long-term lighter traffic.

    Not So Obvious

    I recently read an issue of IBPA Independent, a magazine from Independent Book Publishers Association. It was the July/August, 2020 issue. The theme of that issue was coping and adjusting to the effects of COVID-19 on the publishing business.

    One of the articles illustrated how independent publishers can be more flexible than the major companies. For example, “Stormbird Press went from releasing four titles at a time to single releases that get full marketing attention for two months before the next title comes out.” They are focusing on increased reader interaction during the post-release period in the hope of developing deeper commitment to their authors, their messages and their titles. It is hoped this approach will be more sustainable than the prior program.

    For musical groups that are avoiding traditional rehearsal, there are online solutions. A church choir I’m part of meets on Zoom. Because the system has lags, we can’t all sing together at the same time. The director or pianist can play or sing and we can sing along with our voices muted. We record songs individually to tracks that help us keep our rhythm. I’ve discovered a better solution for the trio I play with and that is JamKazam, a platform that offers the opportunity to make music in sync. That will surely be used more going forward than it was before the pandemic.

    On a personal level, we can learn how to creatively deal with isolation. Some folks find it easier than others. There are ways of embracing solitude that might not occur to the super-social. For instance, sitting in meditation allows a person to feel a strong connection to one’s fellow spiritual beings. Expansion of the awareness of self to a greater sphere can bring about a sense of oneness with the universe.

    Coming Down the Pike

    This world is always full of uncertainty. Currently, we can multiply that by two at least. What’s coming in 2021? It’s a scary question on several fronts. A presidential coup d’etat attempt? Civil unrest or even civil war? Vaccination issues? Economic recovery challenges such as dying small businesses and unemployment?

    When we reach the point that it’s deemed by the CDC to disregard social distancing, whether that comes in 2021 or later, there will be a variety of speeds at which people will be willing to resume pre-pandemic habits. Going to social and religious events, maskless, hugging each other, eating together and laughing at short range will give many of us pause when we attempt to return to normal. How to act will be something to grapple with for those who were careful about observing protocols meant to slow the spread of the virus.

    I’m confident our experiences thus far will guide us through the uncomfortable situations ahead. With the possible exception of chaos and havoc the outgoing quasi-President manages to inflict on the American people, I believe we will be able to use the same tools we have in 2020 to bring us through the challenges of the future.

    Our Tools

    As a nation, we have learned a great deal about moving out of our comfort zone, about pulling together, about patience and much more. As we face the unknown, these manifestations of flexibility, love and teamwork will serve us well. May it be so.