Happy New Year....2026

Blog …from the President

As we eagerly greet the impending new year, we all have desired (can be read as unspoken) resolutions to set out upon our path into the upcoming year. Clearly intended to reshape less-than-desirable actions or habits of the past, our intentions are bogged down with too many well-meaning resolutions.

I’m finding as I ‘mature’ that minimizing demands tends to produce an increase in positive results. Our dilemma with a multi-faceted need for improvement can also wreak havoc on our ability to focus on too many areas for improvement. So instead of ‘I’m going to lose weight this year’ or ‘I’m gonna cut back on my gummies intake’…and all similar needed improvements, I’m trying a new approach this year.

For my fresh start approach, I’ll still focus on the brightness and full responsibility of the expectations of how 2026 will be crafted. Knowing full well that setting goals and making difficult resolutions can seem plausible for January…but of course January is followed by February…and March follows that short little month of February with an ease similar to the question ‘There can’t be TOO many calories in that second piece of pie…’!

So, how best to ease the weight of our much-desired goals? Replace the resolution with selecting one simple action to face the myriad of mad choices we have to make in all of the numerous areas we are trying to improve. With best-intended results respected, let’s look at a few examples.

Choose one thing to focus on. Be it diet, walking an extra mile, or simply reading one good self-improvement book each month…or every three months. Set an achievable goal.

Choose one thing new to explore. A restaurant. Take advantage of a free concert or dueling pianos at Wellen Park. Listen to a genre of music that in the past has had little appeal.

Develop a laser-focused interest in something unfamiliar. A short-term book club. Attend a Drum Circle at a local beach…not just once…get a solid sense of why they exist and are so popular.

Choose just one thing to give up. For a day…a week…a month…You decide the duration. You decide the object, habit, or resultant goal. Again…make it achievable.

These well-intentioned life habits can be structured in a way that doesn’t set you up for failure. And if you do fail… allow yourself to ‘give it another try’! Let’s all be honest here, losing that 25 lbs and keeping it off is not a guarantee for a successful beach season either!’

Once developed, this habit can be used in so many segments of our lives. We get to choose which will bring us the most satisfying result…and WE set the commitment. Planning on doing something for a whole year...? That has all the earmarks of a fool’s errand! But choosing one simple action for a limited and achievable length of time seems so much more rewarding, as well as uplifting.

So, for my fellow Chorale Members, I challenge you to choose an action that will bring you improved performance. Will develop stronger vocals. Commit to rehearsing with music tapes three hours a week…instead of one. …You choose the action…you choose the length of commitment. But know that our collective resolve will positively affect the greater good of the organization…and the resultant commitment will bring us all a Happy New Year!