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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George Wallace gives us the 'one-finger salute'
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George Wallace gives us the 'one-finger salute'
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Santorum, Obama both got it wrong on Honduras
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Home rule laws aren't a radical idea
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Being a parent is a constant learning process
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Continued ... - Healthy doesn't have to mean expensive
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Oneonta reacted to John Glenn's historic space flight in 1962
"Boy, that was a real fireball of a ride!"
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Oneonta reacted to John Glenn's historic space flight in 1962
- Rick Brockway
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If you're going on a winter hike this year, be prepared for the worst
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If you're going on a winter hike this year, be prepared for the worst
- Sam Pollak
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Runners-up get no respect in today's America
This will surely come as rather a nasty shock to those who know me today, but I have several impeccable sources who insist without the least fear of contradiction that I was an annoying child.
Continued ... - To err is human; to make good on corrections, divine
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- William Masters
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Playing Left Field: Meaning of 'liberty' lost in GOP's translation
COLUMN BY WILLIAM MASTERS .... Now, during the Republican presidential primaries, we hear a lot about liberty. It is a leave-me-alone type of liberty, suggesting the license to do what one may choose in the sacred call of business activity. Much is sought in the name of freedom.
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Government no longer about power of people
In my time, the idea of conservatism has been turned upside down. Men in my family wore neckties even when just reading the paper at home.
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Americans should respect right to bear arms
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Inequalities breed social dysfunction
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Inequalities breed discontent in our modern society
So many Americans feel a dispirited sense of complaint. The conservative ranks have gravitated to Tea Party anger, while more lately, a less-defined segment has turned out to "occupy" public areas for mutual support as the amorphous "99 percent" is filled with discontent about the elite 1 percent reaping the lion's share of wealth.
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Freedom should not belong to the rich alone
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There's no such thing as completely clean energy
Some local people cry "Drill, Baby, Drill," reminding us of our nation's need to be freed from dependency on foreign oil. And we are regularly treated to TV ads praising "clean coal" in generating electricity.
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Consider competence, congeniality when voting
NetSummary
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'People are scared, angry' that the country is going down the drain
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'We are all dependent: Both upon the Earth, and on an economy'
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'Corporations are not people; they are tools that entrepreneurs use'
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Thoughts of a 'bleeding-heart' liberal
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Playing Left Field: Meaning of 'liberty' lost in GOP's translation
