Oh no, it’s that time of year again.
During the holidays, we were especially good to each other, and on Jan. 1, we resolve to be especially good to ourselves.
We’ll eat healthier, we’ll make our lifestyles more sustainable and we’ll be more frugal — the current economic climate leaves us little choice.
Jan. 1 is the day to start anew and make our lives better. There is value in setting goals each year with the goal of enrichment, but often times we lose sight of resolutions by springtime.
With that in mind, here are five reasonable resolutions, that if attained, will make you a better person and Redmond a better community.
1. Buy and shop local: Redmond is home to a myriad of businesses, retail shops and service centers. Why battle the treacherous traffic of SR 520 to get to Bellevue or Seattle, when everything you need is right here? The Greater Redmond Chamber of Commerce recently launched a buy and shop local campaign called Think Redmond. Go to www.thinkredmond.com for more information. And if you really want to show your love for the business community, attend the chamber’s annual Gala and Auction Feb. 6. Go to www.redmondchamber.org for more information.
2. Volunteer to help others: Take the time to lend a helping hand. Time is money, but it can also be a priceless gift if that time is spent tutoring a student, shopping for a local food bank or cleaning up a park. Hopelink is Redmond’s largest human services agency, but you don’t have to go there to make a difference. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities in Redmond, from schools to the Senior Center.
3. Help take a bite out of crime: I am not suggesting that you join the police academy. But as community members, we can work to make Redmond a safer place by communicating with neighbors, engaging in healthy relationships, avoiding drinking and driving and — for the love of God — locking our car doors and keeping valuables out of plain sight!!
4. Ride a bike: Redmond is the self-proclaimed bike capital of the Northwest, so this one is a no-brainer, right? Bicycling has many benefits, including exercising and reducing our carbon footprint. A city program worth checking out is R-TRIP, the Redmond Trip Resource & Incentive Program, which rewards Redmond residents and employees for choosing alternatives to driving alone..
5. Stay informed and participate: Being educated about the community and the leaders who shape it goes a long way toward a good quality of life. Reading the Redmond Reporter is a good start, but take one step further and participate in community meetings and events. Don’t just read the news, be the news. Voice your opinion and, most importantly, vote in all elections. After all, our elected leaders are a reflection of our community.
This is a new year. It’s time to make a difference and stop complaining about higher taxes, unemployment and the Seattle Seahawks.
Bill Christianson is the editor of the Redmond Reporter. He can be reached at (425) 867-0353, ext. 5050 or at bchristianson@redmond-reporter.com
