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WILKES-BARRE — So I sat down to write this column about New Year’s resolutions and whether it is even worth it to make them.
I mean, is it realistic to expect anybody to have the ability to commit to a major change in lifestyle, thought, attitude or practice?
Probably not, I thought to myself.
Is it reasonable to expect any politician, for example, to actually follow through on all of those campaign promises/resolutions? As voters, when we decide to support a particular candidate, should those elected then be expected to fulfill those promises by doing what they said they were going to do?
OK, stop chuckling.
Because keeping those promises would be committing “political suicide.” Right?
So let’s get this straight — if a candidate runs for office and spews out all of these things that need to be done in Washington or Harrisburg or Podunk, and then wins and they set out to do what they said they would do — which got them elected by the way — then they will fall out of favor with the voters?
Does this make sense? Of course not. And so the merry-go-round continues.
In Wilkes-Barre, Tony George campaigned on three words — law and order. That was it. It was his message, and it resonated with voters who were tired of living in a city where crime was infiltrating just about every neighborhood. And so they elected Mayor Tony. Have we seen a noticeable improvement in law enforcement? Any significant reduction in crime? In violent crime? You tell me.
How about a resolution to at least show us what is being done to make good on that law-and-order campaign promise?
Can I get an amen to more resolutions, say from elected officials at all levels to stop being so damn partisan and vote for constituents, regardless of party affiliation. Take your elected job seriously. Examine the issues on their merits. Decide what would be in the best interests of taxpayers and residents. Do what is right. Please?
But let’s not stop at elected officials, those politicians with bright white smiles, dark tanned skin and a pocketful of political favors. Let’s move this argument to the public arena.
When you walk down the street, say hello to your fellow man or woman. Hold a door for another person. Smile more. Be optimistic. Donate to charities. Volunteer in your community. Say please and thank you. Salute a veteran.
Like so many of us, we resolve to lose weight. Well then, do it. But lose the bad attitudes as well. Be the good person that resides in all of us. You can do it.
Stop believing everything you see on social media. I realize it is tempting to click on that crazy headline or photoshopped picture, but don’t do it. We can’t allow ourselves to continue to be manipulated by people who have no agenda other than to drive us all crazy — to make us believe we are living in a world where this false reality has been created.
We have become so lazy, so reluctant to educate ourselves. This is far worse than scamming a term paper off of the Internet. This is a daily effort to make us believe that this wonderful world we live in is not really so great. But it is. Resolve yourselves to see that.
There is far too much negativity out there, and the people who are filling our lives with it want it that way. We can reject it. We can look at it and decide that we are not going to allow it to fester. We will not embellish this fake world that is being created all around us.
New Year’s resolutions are healthy. They are usually well-intentioned. We should make them. And we should keep them.
But we don’t need to tell the world — even if it’s just on the Facebook pages — that we got a new phone and will be back online in two hours, or that we just checked in to Olive Garden or that our significant other isn’t all that significant anymore.
Don’t be afraid, say it — after me: “Who cares?” Your best friend shouldn’t be a social media site.
Look around at the world. We all need to be concerned.
Resolve yourself.