Make Resolutions for a New Decade

American love New Year's Resolutions. We make resolutions for our health, our jobs, our careers, and even our finances. We love a new beginning, whether it is a new year, a new baby, or a newly married couple. With a new decade, it is time for a completely new set of resolutions: a new decade. That's right, we make resolutions for a new year, so why not a new decade? I suppose it is because short-term goals are easier for us to keep than long term. Setting a goal for losing ten pounds, or saving a thousand dollars is more obtainable than losing a hundred or saving five thousand for a new house. Perhaps we like our resolutions in increments. If we as a people would only think with a long-term mentality, many of our problems might be solved. Easy money may be around the corner next year, but becoming a doctor may take 12 years. Spending money on an expensive crib for your baby may seem the thing to do, but saving for his college in 18 years would be a better choice. Confronting a foreign power now with weapons may temporarily solve the problem,, but helping that country to build up their infrastructure and educate their people might prove a better long term alternative to war. Maybe that's the problem with our country, we want it now, next month, next year. It takes a special person with patience and the ability to be proven wrong, to set long-term goals. But with the premise that we have a society that is able to plan for the long term, say a decade, let's come up with a few resolutions for the next decade that require some long term planning.

1. Ensure that all of our children who want a college education not only get one, but can afford one, without forty thousand dollars in loans burdening them for the rest of their lives. Or 100,000 of a lawyer or doctor. Since when should a society say only the smartest or richest can go to college? For those who want a career but cannot quit deal with four years of college, trade schools should be made affordable for all. Maybe serving for a couple of years in a volunteer capacity free education would not be such a bad idea after all.

2. Not only balance our countries budget but our own. Who said we need that 450,000 home. If we were thinking long term, we would realize, the kids will be gone in 20 years, and a smaller home will suffice. Who says a three-bedroom house USN't large enough anyway? Above all, deciding what is a need or a want should be written into financial education courses. You may want that 5-bedroom house on the river, but you need a three-bedroom house in a good neighborhood to raise three kids. Dad can do without his study and Mom her craft room. After all, what will an 80-year-old couple do with a 2-story house, 4000 square foot of space they cannot clean and four extra bedrooms?

3. Provide respect for all members of society. Not only the handicapped, mentally challenged, and other races, but also even those that we cannot stand. Maybe there are those who have a different religious or political viewpoint than you do. Some of us run around bragging about how 'open' minded we really are, but then we cannot stand this political group or that one. What happened to a country that allows differences of opinions, but still allows them with respect? We have spent so many years arguing, it will take ten years to return some civility to our relationships with those we disagree with. This goes to Progressives and Tea Party people alike. Both are guilty!

4. Realize that yes, melting ice at the solar caps IS an indication of global warming. While not one for greening everything, our arguments about whether or not the world is warmer are futile. Let's pretend it is not. Is driving a bit less really bad after all? A good one-mile walk to work will help ones health. And if by chance you do believe in global warming, it will help that as well. Either way, everyone wins!

5. Develop the ability to make long-term goals. Seriously, teaching our children to make goals should be a goal. We have lived for far too long in a society where everything is now. With technology, waiting is a word our children are going to forget about. Maybe we have spoiled our children out of fear of being too busy and not being there for our kids? Or maybe our busy world leaves little time, so we try to make up with instant everything - instant dinners, instant messaging, and instant coffee! No wonder our children are dropping out of college or not even opting to go in the first place. There is nothing quit as rewarding as having a goal and working towards it. Ask the surgeon who trained for 12 years, or the writer who spent two years writing a book, or the architect who spent years designing a building. We have become a society that, if it does not happen the first time, throw it away and start over. Teaching our children to long-term plan will not be easy. It will mean we, as adults have to demonstrate it to our kids. Why not go back to school and get that bachelors? Or let them see the penny jar collect coins for the trip to Hawaii in three years?

In order to make a decade resolutions list, we need to be able to change them when needed, update it when necessary, see what is not working and what is, and be patient waiting for the end result. If 2019 comes and the decade resolutions are not completed or are outdated, all we need to do is create another set of resolutions for the next decade. After all, I don't think many of us will be here in 2099 to make century resolutions. Guess a decade will have to do!