Manifolds, Manolos and Manure
The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions dates back some 4,000 years ago to the ancient Babylonians. Those same Babylonians were also the first to ring in the New Year (in mid-March as they planted their crops, not freezing their tail feathers off in January).
As part of their New Year’s celebrations, the ancient Babylonians made promises to the gods in hopes that if they followed through with their promises, then the gods would bestow favor on them in the coming year. These promises could be considered the forerunners to today’s New Year’s resolutions.
Anyone who knows me will tell you that I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. I scoff at the idea of making champagne laden promises of exercise. Budgeting. Dieting. Or personal improvement. Instead, I opt for sarcasm.
In 2022, I promise to be better at tolerating the creepy crawlers who sneak onto our farm. Outside we have an abundance of animal feed, hay, straw, and cattle. We also have a ridiculous number of creepy crawlers. Friends of ours contend that the best defense is a good offense. So, we added two barn cats. And homed a wildly talented calico cat. It’s turned into a nightly game to see how many creepy crawlers she’s caught. Last night her total was six plus something unidentifiable.
My blue-eyed girl loves music. She sings. Hums. Whistles. All in tune. She even plays in the band. I can’t carry a tune. I also don’t usually listen to music. My radio taste runs toward traffic and weather on the eights. No radio no problem. Podcasts. Audiobooks. Buffering too long? No worries. I have a couple of songs on my iPhone. Maybe a little “Hot Child in the City” by Nick Glider. “I Want You to Want Me” by Cheap Trick. “Redneck Crazy” by Tyler Farr. Or “Bottoms Up” by Brantley Gilbert. In 2022 I’m not going to promise to give up news radio and podcasts. But I can promise to listen to the radio a little more.
I love Dr. Pepper. Preferably a fountain Dr. Pepper. I even have a Dr. Pepper flavored lip balm. I would give up coffee if you asked me to choose between it and a Dr. Pepper. That’s how much Dr. Pepper I consume. To limit mine and my big little boy’s consumption, we no longer allow pop or tea with dinner. Milk or water only. For 2022, I will replace part of my Dr. Pepper consumption with water.
As legislative session resumes, building relationships with elected officials and their staffs is incredibly important. Relationships are what opens doors. Returns calls. Sends an email response. Engages in conversations. For 2022, continuing to build legislative relationships will remain a priority for Cook County Farm Bureau and for myself. Relationships and good, verifiable information are currency in Springfield and Chicago.
Although my promises of grandeur for 2022 are not champagne laden nor do they pertain to exercise, budgeting, or anything fun, they are goals. And goals drive progress.