Happy New Year! New beginnings, new resolutions, and a fresh start for everyone! As 2015 comes to an end and we begin to look ahead to 2016, it’s a great time to think about changes each of us may want to make for the coming year. A few resolutions that I tend to add to my list each year include losing that weight I have wanted to get rid of for a couple years now; exercising more so that I am fit enough to walk around the entire building without getting winded; or maybe I would like to let go of some things that have occurred in the past and start fresh with the present.
These are all excellent resolutions for 2016, but if you are anything like me, you will create your list of intended resolutions, try really hard for the month of January and then by February, give in and decide to try again next year. But why is this? Why are so many of our resolutions so difficult to keep? I believe that the reason resolutions may be so difficult for us to keep is because the resolutions we make tend to focus on the end results we would like to achieve and see immediately rather than the small steps we could be taking to get there over the course of the year. The resolutions don’t take long to make, but the goals we set don’t just happen overnight. Some of them will not even be achieved in a year!
If each of us were to look at the ultimate resolution and break it down into more manageable steps, we would find it a lot easier to make progress and begin to achieve results. I find that when I achieve even one of the small steps to a resolution, I am encouraged to start the next step, and so on, until I have reached my overall goal. And keep in mind that resolutions don’t always have to be huge. They can be something as little as eating one less dessert each week or parking one spot further away from the door in order to get just a little more exercise. I found this quote by John C. Maxwell to be both simple and helpful when applied to achieving resolutions, “You’ll never change your life until you change something that you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” I hope that you find this advice on working toward your resolution helpful. Keep in mind that we all fall off the bandwagon from time to time. It’s okay to pick ourselves up and try again as often as we need.
Before closing, I would like to leave each of you with an idea for a New Year’s resolution that I hope everyone at Boulder Estates will make part of their daily routine for the coming year. It is a resolution to help with the recycling. If you haven’t had a chance yet, please stop in one of the garbage/recycle rooms to see the very helpful and informative display put together by Tenant Services to assist all of us in our recycling efforts. There is a useful, easy to follow displays that explains what is recyclable, what is not, and how to use the recycling containers.
You may be wondering, “Why is recycling such a big deal anyway?” There are many different reasons why recycling is important. When we recycle, the materials are used to make new products from the old products that are no longer useful. Currently, waste has a HUGE negative impact on the environment, and the amount of waste we create is massive and continues to increase. The great news is each and every one of us can do something about this! In using the recycle bins how they should be used, we will not only help decrease waste, but will also help to create a better environment for your children and grandchildren. Look outside; take in the sun, the sky, the trees, the earth. If we want future generations to inherit a beautiful, clean world, then recycling is a must!
YOU, yes, you, can make a difference by following the simple steps found on the display wall when you are recycling. If you are ever unsure if something is recyclable or not, please refer to the posted information or just ask! In addition, keep in mind that someone must sort through the garbage/recycle material if it is not placed in the proper receptacle. Did you know that maintenance staff will typically try to sort out discarded recyclables as they empty the waste areas throughout the week? I did not. So please help them out and follow the steps posted in your garbage area. Thank you for your cooperation with this resolution! I know that if each one of us tries every week to put the recycling where the recycling belongs and the garbage where the garbage belongs, together, we can achieve our ultimate resolution of a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone! May you be blessed today and every day, Tenant Services Team