Everywhere I turn these days,
I can’t seem to escape the tirade
of news on the current economic
climate, our state budget woes
... and the list goes on.
Certainly these issues impact
all of us. We should educate
ourselves and vocalize our
opinions to friends and family,
co-workers, communities and
legislators.
But the constant doom-andgloom
atmosphere can wear on
you, and no one seems to have
the answers. So what do we do
about it?
Well, I don’t pretend to know
all the answers, but I do know
there needs to be a balance in
our lives. So, my recommendation
is to take time for yourself
to relax and have fun.
Everyone needs an avenue
to breathe in and exhale, to release
the trials and tribulations
we go through and return to a
sense of normalcy, or at least a
moment of peace.
I had the privilege of attending
the Springbrook Gala 2009
titled, “What Do You Dream?”
on Saturday and found myself
smiling as I watched the honoree,
Connor Gifford, cut a rug
on the dance floor.
He is an extraordinary
individual, and his energy was
contagious. The mood of the
evening was festive and joyful,
and not only did the event
benefit the Kids Unlimited Preschool,
it also offered the guests
an outlet to have fun.
Your pleasure may be to
watch a sitcom or reality show,
listen to your favorite CD, have
a picnic at the park or call a
friend to chat.
Maybe you’ll snuggle up with
a book and participate in the
upcoming Big Read, or take a
long walk. A pedicure, sinful
sundae or a long, hot bubble
bath can do the trick.
The common theme is this:
Take the time to unwind and do
something because you want to
do it, not because you have to.
Life’s stresses will undoubtedly
continue, but how we cope
is essential to our well-being
and sanity.
My life tends to get a little
crazy! My work responsibilities
and commitments, personal
obligations and a 2½-year-old
needing my attention and devotion
don’t leave a whole bunch
of time for Tanya!
My dream is to sleep past 7
a.m., but Hailey, the early bird,
starts chirping at the wee hours
of the morning.
We become so consumed that
we, or at least I, don’t make it a
priority to counteract the doom
and gloom.
My excuses could be endless
as to why I don’t have the time,
but life is too short to miss out
on the little pleasures that we
all deserve.
The time change has added
more daylight and the warmer
weather is starting to roll in. I
think we can start packing up
the winter garb. Growing season
is on the horizon, so the colorful
landscape will return. The
seasonal change always lifts our
spirits _ almost a revitalization,
if you will.
While we certainly can’t
ignore our recent challenges,
we can take back the reins. I
plan to start with building “me
time” into my daily routine, and
I hope you can do the same.
And now, smoking … Yesterday
the price increased, making
my dwindling but still bad habit
sting a little more. Nothing new
to report except that I am glad
at this point I am not at two
packs a day!
I hope the price increase
helps to diminish the number of
cigarettes or folks smoking longterm.
For anyone who has made
the decision to quit, you have
my support and my compassion.
___
Tanya Shalor is publisher
of The Daily Star and may be
reached at (607) 432-1000, ext.
214, or tshalor@thedailystar.com.
Her column appears every other
week.
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From the Publisher's Desk: In times of stress, seek out ‘me’ time
- Big Chuck D'Imperio
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Safety Patrol D.C. visits never get old
I asked Cam Morris, head of Eastern Travel/Oneonta Bus Lines, how many years her company has been handling the Safety Patrol trip to Washington, D.C.
Continued ... - My pal Brucie, savior of Sidney's hospital
- Catching a whiff of 'Vermont Vapor'
- Selections from the virtual mailbag
- Recalling days of 'Doughnut King'
-
Safety Patrol D.C. visits never get old
- Cary Brunswick
-
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We've become our own worst enemies
The past month has been marked by a seeming unprecedented number of man-made tragedies, as distinct from those caused by violent outbursts of the natural world, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis.
Continued ... - Plenty of blame to go around for Bangladesh horror
- Obama is going against his word on Social Security
- Reflecting on a Florida trip
- Those magnificent spies in their flying machines
-
We've become our own worst enemies
- Chuck Pinkey
- Guest Column
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A closer look at the Oneonta town survey
The Town of Oneonta conducted a survey of town residents during February and March of this year. The survey indicated that generally town residents are satisfied with the quality of services provided and they are happy to live here. They want to balance the quiet, rural way of life we have with additional commercial development and environmentally sound practices.
Continued ... - Farmers markets are in full bloom
- Records seizure is an insult to free press
- The evangelical view of same-sex marriage
- Manor's fate will be Otsego board's legacy
-
A closer look at the Oneonta town survey
- Lisa Miller
-
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A view from above
Fire towers in the Catskill Mountains have always been destination points, built to capture some of the region’s best views. These sentinel stations served an important role for the earliest possible sightings of forest fires in the remote mountain ranges. But the fire towers and those who manned them fulfilled a multitude of other roles as well.
Continued ... - Being a parent is a constant learning process
- Healthy doesn't have to mean expensive
- A family era ends with close of Potter series
- Independent stores make up for loss of Borders
-
- Mark Simonson
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Blackmail scheme failed to hurt Richfield Springs resort season in 1888
The timing simply couldn't have been worse. Thousands of visitors were making plans for their summer vacations to Richfield Springs in 1888 when a bombshell of a newspaper article hit the newsstands of New York City. The article appeared in The New York Sun that stated typhoid fever and diphtheria had a "heavy presence" in the resort village, known and respected worldwide for its cleanliness and good health.
Continued ... - General Clinton Canoe Regatta got a new home in 1972
- Sunday movies in Oneonta finally shown in 1934
- Politics, fitness and landmarks dominated local news in May 1968
- Local people sought income in many ways in 1933
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Blackmail scheme failed to hurt Richfield Springs resort season in 1888
- Rick Brockway
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Waterfalls are even better when you keep them to yourself
Millions of people flock to see the great waterfalls of the world. They watch the millions of gallons of water wash over Niagara Falls or see the water come out of spectacular mountains to fall hundreds of feet into the valleys below. Waterfalls are truly some of nature's most beautiful sights.
- Kids have sparkle in their eyes
- People make the outdoors even better
- Turkey season has ups and downs
- Spring air isn't always the freshest
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Waterfalls are even better when you keep them to yourself
- Sam Pollak
- William Masters
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Schreibman tops Chris Gibson on women's issues
As the time to vote draws near, we need to remember how money can run politics more than we can. Raising funds is a prominent (if not the dominant) task of getting elected. Raising issues is also crucial, but those efforts are subject to distortion and fear-mongering.
- Republicans feelentitled to allthey can garner An entitlement is a legal benefit available from the government to individuals who are within a defined category of recipients, such as needing insurance for unemployment or health services.
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Romney focuses on self; Obama emphasizes unity
Mitt Romney criticizes President Obama for saying a person's success is rooted in his community, and is not all his alone. Romney belittles this with his belief in individual initiative. He is better at the put-down than the push-up.
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Romney shows little regard for common man
The Republicans in Congress have voted over and over, 33 times, redundantly and uselessly, to rescind what they call Obamacare.
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Scouts' gay ban creates problem where none exists
The Boy Scouts of America's "emphatic reaffirmation" of its vow to exclude any and all homosexuals from its hallowed ranks is ill-considered and pathetic, especially in view of its having reviewed the matter for two years.
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Schreibman tops Chris Gibson on women's issues
