Renew your resolutions! by Danielle

It’s nearly a month into 2013 and most of us have probably broken our New Year’s resolution.  My resolution this year seemed like it should have been easier to keep—“I will be happy.  I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me. If my mind fills with clouds, I will chase them away and fill it with sunshine.” But, just a few days in, I broke the resolution when my persnickety car transmission started acting up, and I let it ruin my whole day. 

Resolutions that involve how you think and feel are much harder to keep then concrete goals like not eating chocolate or drinking more water.  Our thoughts and feelings are always with us, bombarding us at every turn.  I suggest you get some extra help.  The library is filled with books on learning how to think positively, set new personal goals in your life, and improve interpersonal relationships.  Some of our newest items include:

·             “Get What You Want: the Art Of Making And Manifesting Your Intentions” by Tony Burroughs.  Burroughs, shares advice he initially learned on a farm over a ten year period.  He developed “The Code” to be repeated once a day and tried it out with a circle of friends.  It resulted in dramatic and life-changing effects.

·             “What Do You Want To Do Before You Die?” by The Buried Life.  This book is an illustrated selection of answers to the title's question, submitted online and and featured in the MTV reality television series of the same name.  Also included are brief essays on how the authors accomplished some of their lists' tasks and their experiences helping others complete their lists.  

·             “Friendkeeping: A Field Guide to the People You Love, Hate and Can’t Live Without” by Julie Klam.  Klam examines friendship in all its modern varieties, both online and in person, and explores how to keep friends in the face of intimidating odds, including disliking a spouse or being happy in their misfortunes.

·             “The Antidote: Happiness For People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking” by Oliver Burkeman.  Burkeman suggests an alternative to making resolutions.   He suggests making tiny individual changes, repeatedly throughout the year, rather than multiple, ambitious ones at the start of it.

So, one month into the New Year, make a new resolution.  Resolve to drop into the library to find the tools that will help you get back on track and make some real change.