IN THE CITY
by Martin Puckett
I am sure many of us have set some New Year resolutions for 2013. I set a few personal goals last year, mostly to do with my health. Some were hard to measure; they were general goals, like being healthier.
Ordering a turkey club on whole wheat instead of white is healthier. I resolved to run a marathon. I did complete that goal (even logged 1,000 miles last year), but my wife told me I am never doing that again in the near future. I had some problems walking for the few days following the race and avoided the stairs for awhile too. I am not sure running a marathon is healthy.
The most important goal I made last year was to spend more time with family. How did I do? I think I can fairly say I spent more quality time with family. More meals together, more board games played, more trips to Mantle Lake Park, and many laughs shared. Spending more time with family is my main goal for 2013.
Didn’t set any resolutions? It isn’t too late. Here are some ideas:
• Buy a cup of coffee (or tea) once a week. I know there are plenty of people that stress the importance of forgoing the cup of coffee due to cost. Some financial wizards can show you an amazing graph of how the money you would spend on a cup of joe would add up in your life time to a small fortune. However, there are some great places locally to get a fantastic cup of coffee. Take time and enjoy yourself when you drink that cup. Buy a pastry too. You might even run into someone you know and catch up. I find when I buy that cup of coffee, it is more than a caffeine boost; I buy a little experience. Some coffee is that good.
• Take a walk. There are some great places to walk right around us. Some of the most memorable times with my parents as a child were the long walks we use to take together on the weekend. It was time away from the television, the phone (cell phones we not around yet) and was time together. When was the last time you climbed Haystack? Walked on the Bike Path? Went to Aroostook State Park? It is an inexpensive activity and also counts as exercise. Enjoy your surroundings, we live in a beautiful part of the world.
• Compare locally. I love to research products online. Drives my wife crazy how many hours I will spend on researching something as mundane as a frying pan. There are so many consumer product review websites sites to determine the best bang for your buck. I know there are items you can find cheaper online from time to time but I challenge you to give a local business a shot before hitting the “buy” button on the screen or buying an item from out of The County. I completely understand that budgets are tight and every dollar is important, but the local business you buy from is more likely to donate to a local charity that will benefit our community. There are some great local artists too!
• Try volunteering. There are many city committees and boards that need to be filled in the beginning of the year, literally from A to Z; airport to zoning board of appeals. There are many organizations that need volunteers too. You will find it very rewarding. Share your knowledge and time.
I look forward to a great 2013 and hope you see all your resolutions to the end.
Martin Puckett is Presque Isle’s deputy city manager. He can be reached at 760-2780 or via e-mail at mpuckett@presqueisleme.us.
