For many years, I kept the same resolution: not to speak ill of anyone. It’s damn hard. There are self-serving nincompoops everywhere. Generally speaking, the resolution has held up and I catch my thoughts before they burst forth to malign someone, even if I think they need it.

There are a lot of mixed reviews on making New Year’s resolutions, with some indication that they drift off in the second or third month. This is especially so with the usual goal to lose weight or get more exercise. Regardless, sometimes we need the objective third party, the natural point to reset, and in this case, a new year is as good as any moment to push into new positive, productive habits.

I have several suggestions that focus on finding our authentic selves, made more difficult by distractions all around us. Most of our lives are spent on external stimulation; making a living, watching sports, dressing up, a good meal. While we still have the age-old efforts to develop the self through religion, ritual, and education, the reality is that we rarely ever really hit the core of who we are. Famous philosophers from Socrates to Thoreau have discussed the great difficulty in discovering the inner “I”. Since I believe that authenticity is what we seek and what we struggle to find in ourselves, here are some suggestions I hope will be helpful in the new year.

Complain less. I have been on the Nextdoor App and Facebook and the level of whining over what are not real problems is eye-opening. I regret the time I left a middling review on a local restaurant and have since resolved to take steps first before posting any further negative review in the public. I do this because I think most complaints are driven by something else that is missing, not necessarily paying for a bad meal or getting bad service.

Read more. Over the last twenty years of being around kids and listening to teacher friends, the level we are graduating youth without any depth of a regular reading regimen is obscene. I think the school system of today is in need of a major overhaul for this very reason. While we have moved to curriculums and tests to assess how ready youth are for society, the very basic habit of ensuring education is enjoyable, that reading good books is necessary, has been lost. Progress cannot be measured by digits, inputs, and outputs alone. With the advent of modern communications, the use of AI, and unending choices, the value of a well-read citizenry must remain. Special note: As a GED teacher, I used the naturalization exam to gauge the knowledge of students. Should we expect our youth to at least know what it takes to become an American? Take a look at some of the questions.

Get outside more. We were born in the wild. We’ve done everything possible to tame it, but the wildness is still in us. Whether more hikes, fishing, hunting, walking your kids to school, make sure you get a daily dosage of being outdoors. One of my life goals has been to walk the Appalachian Trail. It may not happen, but the thought of it being there brings me some peace. The public sphere is really under threat, especially because the convenience of technology makes it easier to stay home and the mass marketing of fear makes us feel safer inside.

Fight that. Even a view of the outdoors has been found to have health benefits for a quicker recovery in hospitals. Make a goal of learning to kayak, visiting a number of parks, or walking to work so you see things from a different scale. It’s good for our health, and good for society.

Be less of a follower. I get it. There is great comfort in our groups and routines. When it becomes something that guides your every decision, break the chains a bit. I guarantee you there is more undiscovered country if we give ourselves a bit more flexibility to find our own thoughts. Check the groups, organizations, and clubs you belong to. Add something different. It will spur you to new thinking and new friends.

Practice the kindness of strangers. I was out at a public shooting range recently with my oldest son. It was a new location and no one we knew. During our time there, one person offered a target to use, and another offered a stapler when the post holding our target was falling down.

Little things make big gains for everyone. Do something for a friend or for a stranger. You get extra points if you do it anonymously.

Whether you follow any of these recommendations or come up with ones of your own, this is the time to resolve. Even one thing that can make you a better human. You can do this.

In a previous issue, I recommended that you get familiar with artificial intelligence tech (AI) and included some suggested apps and links. Since that time, Microsoft’s AI initiative called Copilot is now available as an app. I realize there are some anxieties with AI, but I would still recommend you move forward and learn. This is a great way to do so. Download and test it for yourself.

Oh, the world of cinema, a realm where mediocrity reigns supreme, where the glitz and glamour often overshadow the true essence of storytelling. Year after year, we are bombarded with lackluster films and overhyped fluff, a constant reminder that filmmaking is, at its core, a business. Bills must be paid, and people must work, resulting in a plethora of middling content flooding the silver screen. But amidst this sea of disappointment, every now and then, a brilliant little gem emerges, shining brightly and reminding us why we fell in love with the magic of movies in the first place.

See…this…film.

I am a sucker for the little guy. We rarely know the hidden sacrifices that individuals make, though we know that life is monstrously unfair. My heart swells with admiration for a man like the professor in this tale, who dedicates his life to shaping the minds of the next generation. He toils in obscurity, his efforts often overlooked, but in the end, an impact immeasurable.

There are quite a few themes here; the concepts of duty and honor, being pillars of society, and personal sacrifice. This is the era of Vietnam, and some are sent off to war, sacrificing their lives, while others manage to evade the clutches of conflict and sacrifice only their holidays. The professor, a devotee of Marcus Aurelius, finds himself at a crossroads, faced with a decision that could save a student but cost him his position. He has already experienced the harsh sting of life while adhering to the rules, yet as fate would have it, he is stung once more when he dares to defy the rules, only to discover that the student becomes the teacher. In some profound way, he is liberated from the confines of his self-imposed prison.

This film delves deep into the emptiness of ritual devoid of honor, exploring the sacrifices parents make for their children, as well as the selfish choices that prioritize personal happiness over the needs of a child. It portrays the resilience of the human spirit, the various coping mechanisms we employ to soldier on through pain, whether it be through the solace of books, the numbing embrace of alcohol, or the mindless escape offered by television. And in the end, what truly matters? It is the journey of self-discovery, the pursuit of authenticity, and anything that veers us off this path is undoubtedly misguided.

Within the confines of an elite school for boys, we discover that it is no different from any other place. Despite the façade, the masks we wear to conceal our true desires, nothing can hide the universal longing for genuine love and acceptance. It is a reminder that amidst the noise and chaos of the world, the search for love and authenticity remains the ultimate quest.

And Now….

Some advice on the way out the door…

It’ll be a new year the next time you read this. Prepare yourself. Seize your time. Live a life worth living and remember: Be a good human.