I RESOLVE TO . . .

I Resolve To™ . . . Update My Summertime 'Green Goals' - Day 210

Happy Monday - It's time to update my summer 'Things To Do For The Environment List' and it's also Tip Day for ways to 'Give The Boot To Our Carbon Footprints'.  In 2008 my New Year Resolution is to 'show gratitude' for my blessings by 'giving back' and the environment is one of my recipients.  I dedicate three columns each week to news, information and ideas about small, daily steps we can take to reduce our Carbon Footprints.  Consider the huge, positive, long-range impact on the environment if each one of us performs 'habitual' actions - like driving fewer vehicle miles, using more energy efficient light bulbs, and turning off lights when we leave rooms.  My goal, as an individual, is to urge others to follow my lead, and take a few small steps each and every day toward protecting the environment.

I've made a lot of progress in my effort to educate myself about ways to help the environment and to take action this year.  One of the ways that I stay on top of my daily goals is to review my 'To Do Lists' frequently.  Here's an update on my summertime 'To Do's For The Environment' . . .

1. Order I Resolve To . . . Canvas Tote Bags to take to the grocery store (less plastic!).  Update:  I have seven brand new Tote Bags for my trips to the grocery store!  I am now taking a bag, or two, or more with me each day, so that I have them on hand for shopping and other excursions.  A colleague also gave me a great slide show recently that describes great reasons (and lots of data) to stop using plastic bags.  Have a look, it's very interesting:  Poconorecord.com - Plastic Bag Use
2. Recycle Magazines - My goal is to work through my stacks and will donate to worthy organizations and groups.  Update:  I'm working to identify organizations, friends and 'others' who can use my magazines, and plan to start delivering them this month.  Reading has slowed, but I'm going to sort and winnow out mags in August . . . so they are on their way to a new home!
3. Walk and Metro more, and drive less, when I am in Washington, D.C.  Update:  I'm actually driving very little, and walking quite a bit, due to my surgery;  plan to keep that up in July and August both in Fredericksburg and DC.
4. Promote Keep America Beautiful in an effort to urge people NOT TO LITTER!  Update:  I've done two columns and have a link to the KAB website on my blog, but need to brainstorm other ways to give KAB a hand.  I have been mentioning it to friends who have have fond memories of the early KAB Campaigns.
5. Review my EarthLab Promises - a great website that provides great ideas for reducing your Carbon Footprint, and offers a way to track the promises/goals you make.  Update:  This is on-going, work in progress - I need to review the website again this week to get some new ideas!
6. Do more research on recycling.  Update:  This is an on-going work in progress this summer.  I've done my research and have decided that I am going to start small:  recycle my water bottles first, so that I can set up a system of collecting items and taking them to the recycling center.  Then I'll move on to other items, cans, paper, etc.
7. Create ways to recycle at home even though I cannot get trash haulers to send 'recycle trucks' to my home in the country.  Update:  I am working hard to buy and waste less.  I am taking the phrase Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to heart!
8. Research and write columns about the 'end' of Incandescent light bulb, which will be phased out in 2012 under a 2007 energy law passed by Congress.  Done:  Did my research and posted a column, June 6th. 
9. Redouble my efforts to conserve energy at home:  lights, computers, appliances, etc.  Update:  This is a work in progress, on-going through the summer.  I have been a bit hit and miss at times - I really need to turn down the power, lights, compueters, heating/cooling etc., and am determined to 'do better' in August/September.
10. Begin brainstorming and researching steps I can take in the Fall when I finish this list!  Update:  Almost time for a new list, new ideas, new goals . . . September, October, November!

If you want to fulfill a dream, keep a New Year Resolution, or achieve daily goals it helps to have a specific resolution, to do your homework, build a plan, write things down in a daily journal, create a timeline with deadlines for tasks, and do daily and weekly Check-Ins.  If you want more ideas for ways to stay on track visit the I Resolve To . . . Toolkit:

• I Resolve To . . . System
• I Resolve To . . . Tips

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 28, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 28, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

I Resolve To™ . . . Recycle My Printer Ink Cartridges! - Day 203

Happy Monday - it's Tip Day for ways to 'Give The Boot To Our Carbon Footprints'.  In 2008 my New Year Resolution is to 'show gratitude' for my blessings by 'giving back' and the environment is one of my recipients.  I dedicate three columns each week to news, information and ideas about small, daily steps we can take to reduce our Carbon Footprints.  Consider the huge, positive, long-range impact on the environment if each one of us performs 'habitual' actions - like driving fewer vehicle miles, using more energy efficient light bulbs, and turning off lights when we leave rooms.  My goal, as an individual, is to urge others to follow my lead, and take a few small steps each and every day toward protecting the environment.

This summer one of my projects has been to increase the ways that I am recycling and reusing things in my day-to-day life.  I began a project to donate my used magazines to charities, and I'm working my way through my stacks (still need to stop by the local library, however, to inquire about what is needed).  And recently I decided to begin recycling every plastic water bottles that I use every day.  I'm in the process of setting up that system (for some folks recycling bottles and trash is easy - their trash haulers offer bins and actually recycle the trash.  I, however, live in the country and the trash haulers won't provide the recycling service that I need because it's too far to walk to the house from the truck).  So . . . I am creating my own system and I'm going to schedule trips to the local recycling center.  It's definitely a bit of a lifestyle change, but one that I can work in gradually . . . small steps.

There are also some really 'easy' ways to recycle.  Office Depot, for instance, has a program that allows folks to recycle used print cartridges - you bring in your used cartridge and receive a $5.00 rebate when you purchase a new one.  Now what can be better than that?  Rather than tossing your old cartridge, you can recycle it and get cash back!  I started that new 'habit' this week.  Are you ready to start some new 'habits' of your own that could benefit the environment?  You don't necessarily have to make major lifestyle changes - start small, pick one or two daily changes that you can make that would benefit the environment, and start today!

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 28, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

 

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 28, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

I Resolve To™ . . . Patiently Add Good Recycling Habits To My Daily Life! - Day 198

Small steps, small actions do add up over time . . . whether you are working to fulfill a dream, to make the world a better place, or to add positive change to your life - healthy habits for body, mind and spirit, for instance - action does add up over time.  If you want to achieve, or change, you first have to decide to 'act', define what you intend to do, then build a plan that will take you to the finish line. 

Folks often get stuck not long after they begin a new endeavor - they get overwhelmed, or lose their motivation, and soon give up.  Consider this running example: Many resolution-setters begin strong when the gun goes off at the beginning of the race, then fade because they can't find their stride.  Alternatively, when a runner begins the process realistically knowing that he/she doesn't have to run a full Marathon while only a beginning runner - progress and achievement is sure to follow.   If you are patient, and work your way up from walking, to a five-mile run, to a half-Marathan, then a full Marathon, you can succeed brilliantly!  I take that approach with everything in my life, particularly my dreams, resolutions, and daily goals to protect and preserve the environment.

It's Tip Day for ways to 'Give The Boot To Our Carbon Footprints'.  In 2008 my New Year Resolution is to 'show gratitude' for my blessings by 'giving back' and the environment is one of my recipients.  I dedicate three columns each week to news, information and ideas about small, daily steps we can take to reduce our Carbon Footprints.  Consider the huge, positive, long-range impact on the environment if each one of us performs 'habitual' actions - like driving fewer vehicle miles, using more energy efficient light bulbs, and turning off lights when we leave rooms.  My goal, as an individual, is to urge others to follow my lead, and take a few small steps each and every day toward protecting the environment.

Recycling is an important part of my on-going effort to protect and preserve the environment.  The main problem that I am having, at the moment, is that I live in the country and I can't find a trash hauling company that will send a recycling truck to where I live (the walk is too long from trash to truck), so I need to create my own recycling effort.  I have been noodling this since last Spring - and a plan is beginning to gel:

1. I'm going to start small - pick one or two modes of recycling parts of my trash, and figure out a way to efficiently bundle the trash and get it to a recycling facility that is near my home (I need to get a list and locations of area recycling centers).
2. I'm going to recycle my magazines - perhaps at the local public library, or area non-profits.
3. I'm going to recycle my plastic water bottles first - use the bottles to begin setting up a system that works for me (time efficient and easy, otherwise I won't want to do it because I'm already swamped with things to do!).
4. I'll move on out from there:  Magazines and bottles first, then newspapers, junk mail, cans, etc.

I already recycle when I am in the city and at places that have recycling bins.  I'm careful to leave just-cut grass on the law to mulch, and I mulch my leaves.  So, I feel like I'm on the right track, but I need to educate myself about the steps that I can take, build a complete plan (the four points above are a start), then 'do it daily'!  I'm a Resolutionista and darn proud of it! :)

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 16, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 16, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

I Resolve To™ . . . Be Kind, I'm A Resolutionista! - Day 197

Happy Tuesday!  It's Tip-Day for PreMeditated Acts of Kindness.  My 2008 resolution is to 'Show Gratitude' for my blessings by 'Giving Back'. The point behind PreMeditated Acts Of Kindess is to give more conscious thought to my actions, the way that I treat others - and the way that I treat 'myself'.  In 2008 I am urging folks to join me and do the same - to work at being kind because it's the right thing to do, without worrying about receiving anything in return, be it kind gesture or word, though my experience is that kindness shown is usually returned in kind.

This morning when you drove to work, did you let someone merge when they tried to move into your lane?  Did you say smile and say thank you to the person who served you your English Muffin?  Have you praised a colleague for lending a hand?  Did you give your kid a big hug and shower some affection on a beloved pet?  There are so many different ways to be kind to others.  It's not always easy - life is full of ups and downs and we don't always have the energy or desire to 'give' to others, especially in situations in which the expectations are large.  But, doing something small for someone else can bring joy and goodness to an otherwise dull or rough day. 

Whether you're having a great day, or a rough day, keep in mind the person standing next to has his or her own troubles as well . . . why not do something that will help?  Here are some words of inspiration from one of my favorite websites, The Quote Garden . . .

"What I'm looking for is a blessing that's not in disguise."   Kitty O'Neill Collins

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion. "   Dalai Lama

"Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open."  John Barrymore

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 15, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 15, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

I Resolve To™ . . . Learn More About The Benefits Of Reducing Plastic Bag Use! - Day 196

Happy Monday!  It's Tip Day for ways to 'Give The Boot To Our Carbon Footprints'.  In 2008 my New Year Resolution is to 'show gratitude' for my blessings by 'giving back' and the environment is one of my recipients.  I dedicate three columns each week to news, information and ideas about small, daily steps we can take to reduce our Carbon Footprints.  Consider the huge, positive, long-range impact on the environment if each one of us performs 'habitual' actions - like driving fewer vehicle miles, using more energy efficient light bulbs, and turning off lights when we leave rooms.  My goal, as an individual, is to urge others to follow my lead, and take a few small steps each and every day toward protecting the environment.

A couple weeks ago a colleague shared a really informative slide show that ran on the Poconorecord.com.  I added the slide show recently to the collection of websites that I share periodically, about ways that each one of us can protect and preserve the environment.  I want to highlight the Poconorecord show because it had such interesting facts and data.  For instance, it stated:

• Data released by the United States Environmental  Protection Agency shows that somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year.  [National Geographic News, September2, 2003]
• Less than 1% of bags are recycled.  It costs more to recycle a bag than to produce a new one.  [Christian Science Monitor Newspaper]
• "There's a harsh economics behind bag recycling:  It costs$4000 to process and recycle 1 ton of plastic bags, which can then be sold on the commodities market for $32."  [Jared Blumenfeld - Director of San Francisco's Department of the Environment]

The slide show provides other interesting facts - surf on over:

• Poconorecord.com - Plastic Bag Use

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 14, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 14, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

I Resolve To™ . . . Devote A Half Hour Each Day To My Dreams! - Day 195

The clock is ticking . . . are you making good use of your valuable time?  Each second, each minute, each day is either taking you closer to fulfilling your dreams, or closer to a life filled with regret for what could have been.  You're probably thinking, "Gee, I just don't have time to make my dreams and goals a priority every single day."  That's undoubtedly true.  Our lives are chock full of important activities:  work, family, friends, hobbies, and so on.  But dreams are important too.  They add joy and fulfillment to our lives.  They make us happy.  They help our spirits to soar on the very best of days.

If you truly want to keep your priorities straight - your dreams front and center - you don't have to devote every waking moment, you just need to be willing to take one small step at a time, one day at a time toward achievement.  If you don't know where to begin, or how to carve out the time - start small.  Consider this:   Spending just 30-minutes each day on your dream adds up to 3.5 hours in one week, 14 hours in one month, and 7.5 full days in one year's time.  Those small chunks of time - just 30-minutes daily - truly add up over time.  So, next time you feel like you 'just don't have time for your dreams' reconsider that notion.

Dreams come in all shapes and sizes.  A lot of folks make New Year Resolutions to exercise and get fit, but just can't seem to get in the groove, and ultimately give up.  Some folks dream about reading more books.  Some dream about travel, or scuba, or starting a business, or learning photography.  Every dream is as unique as the dreamer.  What's yours?  Is it languishing on the back burner?  Do you feel bad about that?  Wistful?  All of that can change, but it's up to you to make a firm decision to change, then take action.

Start right now.  Pull that cherished dream off the list of things that you would love to do in this lifetime.  Open a notebook and begin brainstorming.  Spend the next 30-minutes noodling about what you need learn, what you need to do to build a plan and a timeline that will take you closer and closer to achieving your dream, one small step at a time, one day at a time.  Now get going and enjoy the journey!

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 13, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 13, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

I Resolve To™ . . . Check In Today! - Day 194

It's Saturday and that means it's time to review progress on my 2008 New Year Resolution to 'show gratitude for all that I have and all that I am by giving back'.  If you truly want to make and keep your resolutions - commitment and accountability are keys to success.  When you show up each and every day and devote at least 30-minutes, or more, to your daily goals, that time and those accomplishments really add up in a year's time.  So grab a cup of coffee, pull out your journal, and get ready to do some brainstorming on what you've achieved this week and what you hope to achieve in the coming week.

Personally, I love to write, so daily journaling is a firm part of my life.  I like to check in on my dreams, resolutions and daily goals every morning, and it really does help me to stay focused on what I need to do that day, that week, and in weeks to come.  Not everyone has the time to review progress every day - and some folks would rather spend that time working on their daily tasks - so a weekly Check-In will more than suffice.  The point is to stay connected to your plan, timeline, deadlines, and milestones (your victories and successes), so that you can keep the momentum going and make course corrections when necessary.

In 2008, I made a personal commitment to 'show gratitude for all that I have and all that I am by giving back in four areas of my life': 

1. Walk 60 miles for the Washington, DC Breast Cancer 3-Day and raise $3000. 
2. Volunteer at a Virginia Horse Rescue Farm. 
3. Learn more about how to combat Global Warming and take action! 
4. Engage in PreMeditated Acts Of Kindness.

With six months left in the year there is plenty of time to achieve my 2008 'gratitude resolution', and keep the forward momentum going on my Lifetime Resolutions, which include exercise, my resolution project (new product designs, columns, E-Books, Audio Books, and a book).  Here's the status of my efforts this week:

1. Brainstorming ways to raise $250 for my 3-Day Walk, which will bring me to my goal of raising $3000 myself and more than $5000 for my team.  I'm getting back on track with my training, and am building a plan that will enable me to rack up the miles - need to get to 27+ miles per week, and two back to back walks that total close to 20 miles.  I'm looking at sleeping bags, fanny packs, work out clothes, and other gear that will prepare me for the walk.  So things are on track - 83 days until the walk!
2. I'm holding off on volunteering at a Virginia Horse Rescue farm until this Fall, when I am stronger and my stamina has improved.  For now, I'm trying to get my yard and garden beds back in shape after a couple months of post-surgery neglect.  But plan to begin reviewing farms again and pick a few to visit, so I can decide where to spend my time volunteering.
3. I continue to move forward with my 'Give The Boot To Your Carbon Footprint' Project.  I'm continuing my research and brainstorming new ideas.  I try to conserve energy by shutting off lights/computers etc., am down to near zero plastic bags when I shop, am driving as little as possible, conserving water, and so on.  Need to add some new ideas to the list.  And I need to hit the local library to ask about recycling my magazines.
4. PreMeditated Acts of Kindness - a daily effort to be conscious about my words, gestures and actions (how I treat others and myself) is on track.  It is becoming a habit to be much more conscious of what I am saying and doing - and to try to insert more kindness toward others into each and every day.  It's time to do some brainstorming about creative ways to reach out to others.  I'm finding that there are times that I have to say 'no' to folks who expect my help occasionally, and I'm trying not to feel bad about that.  Each one of us has only so much to give and I'm learning that you really have to seek a balance to keep yourself healthy and happy, and to 'do some good for others'.

So, all in all, I'm pleased with the progress this week.  If I continue to maintain my focus and put in the hours of sweat equity, I'll be pleased as punch with my achievements on January 1, 2009.  So much to do . . . and I intend to 'keep my eye' on the prize as I make the journey!

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 12, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 12, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

I Resolve To™ . . . Renew My Resolution To Help The Environment! - Day 193

Remember January 1, 2008?  Seems like such a long, long time ago, doesn't it.  Remember your New Year Resolutions?  They probably seem like a dim memory, as well.  No worries.  There is plenty of time left in 2008 to revive those New Year Resolutions to do something 'good' for the environment.  Rather than looking at the year as a glass half empty, why not look at it as a glass half full?  'Yep', we have sped through 193 days, but there are still 173 days left!

It's Friday, Tip Day for ways to 'Give The Boot To Our Carbon Footprints'.  In 2008 my New Year Resolution is to 'show gratitude' for my blessings by 'giving back' and the environment is one of my recipients.  I dedicate three columns each week to news, information and ideas about small, daily steps we can take to reduce our Carbon Footprints.  Consider the huge, positive, long-range impact on the environment if each one of us performs 'habitual' actions - like driving fewer vehicle miles, using more energy efficient light bulbs, and turning off lights when we leave rooms.  My goal, as an individual, is to urge others to follow my lead, and take a few small steps each and every day toward protecting the environment.

I've made a lot of progress in my effort to educate myself about ways to help the environment and to take action.  One of the ways that I stay on top of my daily goals is to review my 'To Do Lists' frequently.  Here's an update on my summertime 'To Do's For The Environment' . . .

1. Order I Resolve To . . . Canvas Tote Bags to take to the grocery store (less plastic!).  Update:  I have seven brand new Tote Bags for my trips to the grocery store!  Now, I need to remember to put them in my car so I have them handy when I shop . . . A colleague also gave me a great slide show yesterday that describes great reasons (and lots of data) to stop using plastic bags.  Have a look, it's very interesting:  Poconorecord.com - Plastic Bag Use
2. Recycle Magazines - I'm happily working through my stacks and will donate to worthy organizations and groups.  Update:  I'm working to identify organizations, friends and 'others' who can use my magazines, and plan to start delivering them this month.
3. Walk and Metro more, and drive less, when I am in Washington, D.C.  Update:  I'm actually driving very little, and walking quite a bit, due to my surgery;  plan to keep that up in July and August both in Fredericksburg and DC.
4. Promote Keep America Beautiful in an effort to urge people NOT TO LITTER!  Update:  I've done two columns and have a link to the KAB website on my blog, but need to brainstorm other ways to give KAB a hand.  I have been mentioning it to friends who have have fond memories of the early KAB Campaigns.
5. Review my EarthLab Promises - a great website that provides great ideas for reducing your Carbon Footprint, and offers a way to track the promises/goals you make.  Update:  This is on-going, work in progress - I review my promises once each week.
6. Do more research on recycling.  Update:  This is an on-going work in progress this summer.
7. Create ways to recycle at home even though I cannot get trash haulers to send 'recycle trucks' to my home in the country.  Update:  Need to find new ways of using less paper, plastic, etc - and continue research about ways to recycle.  I am taking the phrase Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to heart!
8. Research and write columns about the 'end' of Incandescent light bulb, which will be phased out in 2012 under a 2007 energy law passed by Congress.  Done:  Did my research and posted a column, June 6th. 
9. Redouble my efforts to conserve energy at home:  lights, computers, appliances, etc.  Update:  This is a work in progress, on-going through the summer.
10. Begin brainstorming and researching steps I can take in the Fall when I finish this list!  Update: I begin this new effort in June and am posting new links, articles, and websites that have useful information about ways that we can help the environment!

If you want to fulfill a dream, keep a New Year Resolution, or achieve daily goals it helps to have a specific resolution, to do your homework, build a plan, write things down in a daily journal, create a timeline with deadlines for tasks, and do daily and weekly Check-Ins.  If you want more ideas for ways to stay on track visit the I Resolve To . . . Toolkit:

• I Resolve To . . . System
• I Resolve To . . . Tips

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 11, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 11, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

I Resolve To™ . . . Do Something Kind For A Stranger Today! - Day 192

Do something kind today, something nice for a stranger.  It doesn't have to be earth shattering.  You don't have to move mountains . . . just one small gesture, one kind word, one helpful act.  Let someone merge in traffic, give directions to a tourist who is lost on the street corner, give up your seat to someone in need on the subway.  Open your mind and use your imagination!   

It's Thursday - Tip-Day for PreMeditated Acts of Kindness.  My 2008 resolution is to 'Show Gratitude' for my blessings by 'Giving Back'. The point behind PreMeditated Acts Of Kindess is to give more conscious thought to my actions, the way that I treat others - and the way that I treat 'myself'.  In 2008 I am urging folks to join me and do the same - to work at being kind because it's the right thing to do, without worrying about receiving anything in return, be it kind gesture or word, though my experience is that kindness shown is usually returned in kind.

To get you in the mood and lend some inspiration here are some words of wisdom from one of my favorite websites, The Quote Garden . . .

"One can pay back the loan of gold, but one dies forever in debt to those who are kind."  Malayan Proverb

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."   G.K. Chesterton

"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."  Mark Twain

"Something that has always puzzled me all my life is why, when I am in special need of help, the good deed is usually done by somebody on whom I have no claim."   William Feather

"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention."  Oscar Wilde

"I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks."  William Shakespeare

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 10, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 10, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

I Resolve To™ . . . Recycle, Reuse, Reduce! - Day 191

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a wonderful summer so far.  Recently, I've been noticing a lot of folks are writing on their personal blogs about their New Year Resolutions . . . some are writing about their successes, while others are scratching their heads at how quickly time has passed, and how little progress they have made.  If you truly want to make and keep a New Year Resolution you have to make a firm committment and really need to keep your resolution front and center - make it a top priority.  If you're in need of a spurt of inspiration and some common sense ideas about how to move forward surf over to my Toolkit, or click on these links:  the I Resolve To . . . System and the I Resolve To . . . Tips. 

It's Wednesday, Tip Day for ways to 'Give The Boot To Our Carbon Footprints'.  In 2008 my New Year Resolution is to 'show gratitude' for my blessings by 'giving back' and the environment is one of my recipients.  I dedicate three columns each week to news, information and ideas about small, daily steps we can take to reduce our Carbon Footprints.  Consider the huge, positive, long-range impact on the environment if each one of us performs 'habitual' actions - like driving fewer vehicle miles, using more energy efficient light bulbs, and turning off lights when we leave rooms.  My goal, as an individual, is to urge others to follow my lead, and take a few small steps each and every day toward protecting the environment.

As food for thought I like to, periodically, share a collection of interesting and informative websites and news articles that I have gradually compiled since January 1 when I made my 2008 resolution to do something each and every day to benefit the environment.  I hope you will find some inspirational ideas!

Climate Change -Take Action Today!

• EarthLab
• Carbon Footprint 
• Clean Air-Cool Planet 
• StopGlobalWarming.Org 
• ConservaStore - Light Bulbs
• Conservation International 
• EnvironmentalLights.com - Light Bulbs
• Climatecrisis.net - An Inconvenient Truth 
• Direct.Gov.UK - Calculate Your Carbon Footprint 
• Environmental Defense - Fight Global Warming 
• Environmental Defense - 'How To Pick A Better Bulb'.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Department of Energy, Energy Star.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Personal Emissions Calculator 
• FastCompany.com - How Many Lightbulbs Does It Take To Change The World ( FastCompanyComLightBulbs.pdf ).

Carbon Offsets

• TerraPass.Com
• CarbonFund.Org
• TreeHugger.Com
• The Climate Trust
• CarbonCounter.Org
• David Suzuki Foundation
• Wikipedia - Carbon Offsets
• The Environmental Defense Fund
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Climate Change
• NewYorkTimesFTCCarbonOffsetsJanuary2008.pdf
• BusinessWeekAnotherInconvenientTruthMarch2007.pdf
• ChristianScienceMonitorCarbonOffsetsJanuary2007.pdf
• Joint Statement By WWF, Friends of The Earth and Green Peace on Carbon Offets:  WWF-GP-FoE_on_offseting.pdf

Earth Day - April 22, 2008

• Earth Day Network
• Earth Day - Earth 911
• Earth Day - Wikipedia
• Earth Day - World Wildlife Fund
• Earth Day - EnviroLink Network
• Earth Day - The Wilderness Society
• Earth Day - The Nature Conservancy
• Earth Day - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• About.Com Earth Day - Washington, D.C., Maryland & Virginia 

Arbor Day - April 25, 2008

• Arbor Day Foundation 
• Wikipedia - Arbor Day 
• Plant-A-Tree-Today 
• Clean Air Gardening 
• Trees Are Good 
• American Forests
• United Nations Environment Programme - Tree Planting 

How To Help The Environment - Tips For Kids

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Climate Change Kids Site
• NRDC's Global Warming Challenge
• GlobalWarmingKids.Net
• Cool Kids For A Cool Climate
• Pew Center Global Climate Change
• Science News For Kids - Climate Change

Tips On Recycling

• Ecologue
• Earth 911
• Wikipedia - Recycling
• Grassroots Recycling Network
• PlanetPals - Recycling For Kids
• The Encyclopedia Of Earth - Recycling
• TreeHugger - How To Green Your Recycling
• RecycleWorks - San Mateo County, California
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Magazine Publishers Family Literacy Project - Read, Rescue & Reuse

Tips On Reducing Plastic Bag Use

• Poconorecord.com - Plastic Bag Use
• Planet Ark - Why Are Plastic Bags A Problem?
• Environmental Literacy Council - Paper or Plastic?
• Salon - Plastic Bags Are Killings Us - SalonPlasticBags.pdf
• AlterNet, The Great Plastic Bag Plague - AlterNetPlasticBags.pdf
• Portland Business Journal - Whole Foods Market Bans Plastic: PortlandBusinessJournalPlasticBags.pdf 

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 09, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

Earth Day - April 22, 2008

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 09, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

I Resolve To™ . . . Strive To Be Kind, Especially When It's Tough! - Day 190

Happy Tuesday!   It's Tip-Day for PreMeditated Acts of Kindness.  My 2008 resolution is to 'Show Gratitude' for my blessings by 'Giving Back'. The point behind PreMeditated Acts Of Kindess is to give more conscious thought to my actions, the way that I treat others - and the way that I treat 'myself'.  In 2008 I am urging folks to join me and do the same - to work at being kind because it's the right thing to do, without worrying about receiving anything in return, be it kind gesture or word, though my experience is that kindness shown is usually returned in kind.

Do you give much thought to whether or not you are kind to folks?  Consider this . . . do a little brainstorming and come up with a list of the last 10 kind, or helpful, or generous things that you did for a co-worker, stranger, family member, pet, or friend.  Are those kind acts few and far between?  Do you do one or more kind things each day, each week, each month?  Rare?  Often?  Do you want to do better?  Each one of us can always do better.  When it comes to kindness, it really helps to 'be conscious' - to think about what you are doing and saying. 

I'm especially conscious of my 'weak areas' - the ways in which I can be kinder to folks, but sometimes fall short.  For instance, I'm not always patient with cell, telephone, and cable television customer service representatives when they are especially hard to reach, and provide incredibly poor service.  I have a long history of troubles with all three, with both home and business accounts, and there have been moments when I have been less than pleasant (which makes me very unhappy afterward because I really try to avoid being unpleasant).  So, I really try hard to work on my interaction with customer service representatives.  I try to be calm and polite even in the face of bad attitude and bad service. 

How can you be kinder and nicer to folks.  Why not pick an area on which you can improve and try to do one small thing today that will enable you to make good on that goal?  What do you have to lose?  You and the recipient of your kindness just might have a lot to gain - smiles and feelings of good will all around.

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 08, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 08, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

I Resolve To™ . . . Hold Myself Accountable! - Day 187

AAhhhh . . . a long holiday weekend!!  The pressure is off for now and an extra day, or two, of time-off translates into a more relaxing pace.  "Yep" we still have to do chores and errands, but there is a bit more time to do them, and more time to relax and enjoy hobbies, sports, and favorite activities.  That includes dreams, resolutions and daily goals! 

It's Saturday, and that means it's time to 'Check In'.  Grab a cup of coffee, pull out the journals, timelines, and plans, find a quiet spot to think, and do some brainstorming.  Most importantly it is time to review achievements, wins, and obstacles.  Every Saturday I assess what I have accomplished - all the steps I've taken toward my dreams that week.  I also take a good hard look at what I plan to achieve in the coming week . . . one goal at a time, one day at a time.  I hold myself accountable and it really does help to keep me on track.

Of course, things happen that throw me off track, periodically.  At times each one of us finds ourselves 'Overtaken By Events'  - OBE - but when that happens we just have to give ourselves a pat on the back for what we've achieved, and make some 'Course Corrections', improvise just a bit, so that we can keep moving forward, keep that momentum going. 

If you want to achieve a dream, reviewing the status of weekly pursuits is as important as doing the actual 'work' on a day-to-day basis.  If you don't have a strong plan and a thorough timeline, it's tough to know where you're headed next.  A plan and a timeline enables you to move forward with confidence and conviction.  It removes the guess work.  In 2008, I made a personal commitment to 'show gratitude for all that I have and all that I am by giving back in four areas of my life': 

1. Walk 60 miles for the Washington, DC Breast Cancer 3-Day and raise $3000. 
2. Volunteer at a Virginia Horse Rescue Farm. 
3. Learn more about how to combat Global Warming and take action! 
4. Engage in PreMeditated Acts Of Kindness.

I try to work on my dreams every day even if it's nothing more than working in my journal and planning and reviewing the status of my activities.  I also do a 'Daily Check-In' every morning, in an effort to keep my dreams front and center and to remind myself of what I hope to achieve that day.  It is amazing how much you can achieve in a single year by devoting just 30-minutes, or a hour each day to your dreams, resolutions and daily goals.  Seldom do we make as much progress as we would hope, but progress is progress, and I make a point to be grateful for every step that moves my plans forward rather than beating myself up if I don't hit milestones as quickly as I would prefer.

Six weeks ago, I had to undergo major surgery for an unexpected medical condition, and "Yes" it has slowed my pace just a bit, but that's okay.  My momentum and enthusiasm is still alive and well - and I am moving forward!  Here's the status of my efforts this week:

1. I am $250 away from my goal of raising $3,000 for the DC Breast Cancer 3-Day, and my team as a whole has surpassed my goal of raising $5,000 (we're on track to raise $6,000).  The 3-Day is 90 days away, plenty of time for me to get back on track with my training.  In another week I can begin gradually adding in swimming, biking, and working out with weights, which will improve my stamina.  I also plan to begin walking again - two-to-five miles every other day in July, and a bit more in August and September.  So things are on track.  I still need to buy my gear for the walk, but there's plenty of time in July and August to get myself organized.
2. I'm holding off on volunteering at a Virginia Horse Rescue farm until this Fall, when I am stronger and my stamina has improved.
3. My Global Warming effort is on track.  I continue to do research, and post ideas about ways that each one of us can reduce our Carbon Footprints.  This week I plan to stop by the local library to ask if they can use my recycled magazines, which are in good shape.  And I have a half dozen new canvas shopping bags for my shopping trips.  There is a wide array of other things that each one of us can do and I'll continue to post ideas throughout 2008.  Stay tuned!
4. PreMeditated Acts of Kindness - a daily effort to be conscious about my words, gestures and actions (how I treat others and myself) is on track.  It is becoming a habit to be much more conscious of what I am saying and doing - and to try to insert more kindness toward others into each and every day.  It's time to do some brainstorming about creative ways to reach out to others!

All in all, I'm feeling both good and optimistic about my 'Gratitude Resolution' and my Resolution Project.  This summer my focus is on finishing my E-Book and Audio Book, a calendar, journals, and a video.  I have a new digital camera which will help with the photos, and I am looking forward to spending more time on my product designs.  So . . . as always there is far more 'To Do' than hours in the day, but I'm happy and fulfilled and that's what counts!

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 5, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 5, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved

I Resolve To™ . . . Keep America Beautiful This Holiday Weekend! - Day 186

Happy July 4th!!  On this wonderful Independence Day I hope you are preparing for good times with friends and family . . . getting ready to relax, have a few laughs, barbecue those burgers and hot dogs, and enjoy the fireworks.  As you meander through the day, try to remember the environment in one small way:  stow your garbage in a trash (or recycling) bin, not on the ground in your local park, or on your local highway.  Remember to Keep America Beautiful this long holiday weekend!

It's Friday, Tip Day for ways to 'Give The Boot To Our Carbon Footprints'.  In 2008 my New Year Resolution is to 'show gratitude' for my blessings by 'giving back' and the environment is one of my recipients.  I dedicate three columns each week to news, information and ideas about small, daily steps we can take to reduce our Carbon Footprints.  Consider the huge, positive, long-range impact on the environment if each one of us performs 'habitual' actions - like driving fewer vehicle miles, using more energy efficient light bulbs, and turning off lights when we leave rooms.  My goal, as an individual, is to urge others to follow my lead, and take a few small steps each and every day toward protecting the environment.

The whole 'Keep America Beautiful' (KAB) movement actually started in the 1950's and is still alive and well today.  The KAB website provides a great history time line that covers its early years: "Long before being 'green' was fashionable, Keep America Beautiful formed in 1953 when a group of corporate and civic leaders met in New York City to discuss a revolutionary idea - bringing the public and private sectors toegether to develop and promote a national cleanliness ethic."

I was a kid when KAB began and remember the ads and PSA's.  If you have a minute this weekend drop by the KAB website for a trip down memory lane, and a modern day look at what each one of us can do to Keep American Beautiful!

• Keep America Beautiful Issues
• Keep America Beautiful Mission
• Keep America Beautiful History Ads & PSA's
• Tools For Improving Physical & Visual Aspects Of The Environment

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 4, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved  

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 4, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved  

I Resolve To™ . . . Be Kind To Me This Holiday Weekend! - Day 185

Life is so busy, so chock full of activities, it's often hard to slow down - 'to stop and smell the roses'.  Trite as that old saying might sound, it really does pay off.  When you're conscious of your thoughts, your actions, your words and deeds, life is more meaningful - the quality of your decisions and actions is keener and more 'on target'.  Why not slow down just a bit this weekend and be more conscious of how you are treating others - especially 'you'.  If you're like me, and you try to perform more conscious acts of kindness, sometimes it is easy to forget to take care of yourself.  Well . . . this long holiday weekend is a great opportunity to 'be kind to yourself' . . . why not start right now?

It's Tuesday - Tip-Day for PreMeditated Acts of Kindness.  My 2008 resolution is to 'Show Gratitude' for my blessings by 'Giving Back'. The point behind PreMeditated Acts Of Kindess is to give more conscious thought to my actions, the way that I treat others - and the way that I treat 'myself'.  In 2008 I am urging folks to join me and do the same - to work at being kind because it's the right thing to do, without worrying about receiving anything in return, be it kind gesture or word, though my experience is that kindness shown is usually returned in kind.

The assignment this weekend is to do some things that will bring a smile to your face, things that will help you to relax, laugh a little, be inspired, and full of joy.  It's time to re-charge the batteries . . . time to have hope for a wonderful today and a fabulous tomorrow.  Here's my short list of '20 Favorite Things' that I intend to do this weekend and in coming days this summer . . .

1. Hit my local Dairy Queen and order a Peanut Buster Parfait!
2. Sit by my pool with a good book.
3. Swim and float for an afternoon.
4. Take a looonnng walk through Old Town Fredericksburg . . . enjoy the sites and the people.
5. Pull out my camera, pick a locale, and shoot new photos.
6. Work on my book - write daily!
7. Tend my yard and garden beds.
8. Take an afternoon nap.
9. Watch a great movie (no multi-tasking allowed - just watch the movie!)
10. Turn my Blackberry 'off' at 7:00 P.M.
11. Have lunch with a buddy.
12. Take my Mom to dinner.
13. Take the entire weekend 'off' and just do nothing!
14. Work short days in August.
15. No work allowed when I head to Denver in August - vacation time!
16. Cook a great meal!
17. Read my pile of magazines.
18. Walk the streets of D.C. with my camera - then enjoy a great lunch!
19. Meditate!
20. Be conscious - in the moment - slow down, simplify, smile, and just be happy right now, right here, just as I am!

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 3, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved  

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 3, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved  

I Resolve To™ . . . Live Green This Week - Day 184

You recycle . . . but you'd like to do more to help the environment.  A lot of folks find themselves in that situation.  Recycle has long been part of our collective vocabulary - so many of us already do things at work and at home to do our part:  We recycle newspapers, magazines, bottles, cans, and plastic - but with all the talk of Global Warming and Climate Change, a lot of folks are thinking about 'doing more'.  If you are like me, you're brainstorming about it, and trying to 'do something' as well.  Today is as good as any to put thought into action!

It's Wednesday, Tip Day for ways to 'Give The Boot To Our Carbon Footprints'.  In 2008 my New Year Resolution is to 'show gratitude' for my blessings by 'giving back' and the environment is one of my recipients.  I dedicate three columns each week to news, information and ideas about small, daily steps we can take to reduce our Carbon Footprints.  Consider the huge, positive, long-range impact on the environment if each one of us performs 'habitual' actions - like driving fewer vehicle miles, using more energy efficient light bulbs, and turning off lights when we leave rooms.  My goal, as an individual, is to urge others to follow my lead, and take a few small steps each and every day toward protecting the environment.

Periodically, I like to jump start my 'Give The Boot' effort by thinking less about what I can do (research, research, research) and doing more.  Today is the day.  Here's a quick list of random, easy things that you can do, today, to help the environment . . . Pick one, two, three things off the list and do them!

1. When you pick up your 'fast food' bring your own bag and decline the paper or plastic bag.
2. Better yet, pack your own lunch in a re-usable mini-cooler (save money and the environment).
3. Take Metro to work rather than driving.
4. Turn out the lights when you leave the room.
5. Turn your computer off when you leave your desk.
6. Recycle your magazines by donating to a charitable organization (or a friend).
7. Clean your lint filter after every dryer load.
8. Use cold water instead of warm water when possible (brushing teeth, washing clothes, rinsing dishes).
9. Plant a tree!
10. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
11. Leave your grass clippings on your lawn (they will decompose and return nutrients to the soil).
12. Re-use paper bags, plastic bags and containers whenever you can.
13. Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.
14. Change your furnace/air conditioner filters at least once a month.
15. Use a ceramic coffee mug at work and at home instead of paper cups.
16. Use cedar chips, cedar bars, or sweet-smelling herbs rather than moth balls.
17. Invest in a collection of canvas bags so you can decline 'plastic' when shopping.
18. Buy more products that you can use over and over again.
19. Buy more 'used' products such as furniture.
20. Walk or ride your bike while doing your errands (when possible).

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 2, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved  

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 2, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved  

I Resolve To™ . . . Call My Sister (Or Brother)! - Day 183

Happy Tuesday!  We're heading into a long holiday weekend, what could be better than that?  I hope you're planning some wonderful activities for yourself, your friends and loved ones . . . definitely a barbecue or two, maybe some time lolling in the hammock, or by the pool.  While you're at it, why not do something nice - something kind - give your sister(s), or your brother(s) - a call just to say "hello, I'm thinking of you"?!

It's Tuesday - Tip-Day for PreMeditated Acts of Kindness.  My 2008 resolution is to 'Show Gratitude' for my blessings by 'Giving Back'. The point behind PreMeditated Acts Of Kindess is to give more conscious thought to my actions, the way that I treat others - and the way that I treat 'myself'.  In 2008 I am urging folks to join me and do the same - to work at being kind because it's the right thing to do, without worrying about receiving anything in return, be it kind gesture or word, though my experience is that kindness shown is usually returned in kind.

Maybe your siblings live nearby and you see them all the time; or perhaps they live a thousand miles away and you only see them during the holidays, or during rare visits.  Regardless, reach out this holiday week and give them a call - or maybe even a 'hug in person' if you're able to connect live.  Catching up, listening and sharing, is sure to brighten the day for you and your loved ones.  To get you motivated, here are a few words of inspiration from from one of my favorite websites, The Quote Garden . . .

"Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of.  You know whatever you do, they'll still be there."  Amy Li

"Help one another, is part of the religion of sisterhood."  Louisa May Alcott

"What's the good of news if you haven't a sister to share it?"  Jenny DeVries

"I, who have no sisters or brothers, look with some degree of innocent envy on those who may be said to be born to friends."  James Boswell

"Sibling relationships - and 80 percent of Americans have at least one - outlast marriages, survive the death of parents, resurface after quarrels that would sink any friendship.  They flourish in a thousand incarnations of closeness and distance, warmth, loyalty and distrust."   Erica E. Goode, "The Secret World of Siblings," U.S. News & World Report, 10 January 1994

"Siblings are the people we practice on, the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and kindness and caring - quite often the hard way."   Pamela Dugdale

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 1, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved  

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution!  Make Every Day New Year's Day.  Make Every Day Count.  Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link:  http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

Kim M. Simpson - July 1, 2008
Copyright © I Resolve To™ . . . * All Rights Reserved