It happens every year. New Year’s Day rolls around and everyone is focused on how to become new and improved. And it makes sense. The first of anything (month, year, etc.) is a good time to reset and set goals. But similar to the religious practice of giving up something for Lent, most decide to do something that is specifically beneficial to themselves. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. For some that’s a plan to improve their health through either exercising or healthier eating habits. For others it’s about professional improvement or change, learning a new skill or even just reading a book. And I’m no different than anyone else. While I don’t specifically set goals at the new year, I do take stock of whatever goals I’m currently working towards. And yet, for some reason this year I’m starting to question whether that’s enough.

Should we limit ourselves to those things that are part of our personal bubble? Maybe it is time to think a bit wider in scope. To be clear, I think that this is a big year for humanity. Some even believe that this is a make or break year. Not sure I agree with that. That’s a very doomsday way of looking at things and I don’t subscribe to a doomsday scenario. There are however very big decisions that need to start being made. At the very least serious discussions need to be had.

1. Politics. It’s an election year. And regardless of your political ideology, I think we can all agree that the current political climate is toxic and not very effective. As members of this democracy it is our responsibility to effect the changes needed to fix the problems with government. We need to take a serious look at the men and women we vote in to office at every level – from President of the United States to the local constable. Should we vote for the party or the individual? Does one preclude the other? Why do we pit democracy and capitalism versus socialism as if that’s the only comparison? Do we stay loyal to a primarily two party system? A party system that I would argue has betrayed members on both sides. Voting is the best way to effect wholesale changes in this area and yet that’s not the simple answer. Voting just to vote is only microscopically better than not voting at all. Being informed and making the candidate choice that best aligns with your needs and beliefs is more effective for change. Think of what it would mean to vote when there are no party affiliations. Would the same candidates be at the top of the list? And how would that affect the PAC’s and special interest groups? What if election costs were capped? Would that change not only who you voted for, but also who even ran for office? I don’t have all of the answers. I do know that I’ve had enough of the status quo and would welcome a new conversation regarding how to best move our government and politics forward. Goal for the new year – become a more informed and active participant in politics.

2. Climate. Regardless of your view on climate change, is it possible to agree that the planet needs a little help with cleanup? I understand that the issue isn’t so much whether we should be taking better care of the planet as it is about who’s planning to pay the bill for that care. Let’s put the money to the side for a moment. We should be able to at least agree that we all like clean air, clean water and the aesthetics of a clean living environment. Who doesn’t like looking at scenic photos of a beautiful sunset on the water or snow capped mountains or seeing wildlife in their natural habitat? We keep our homes clean. And our yards neat and tidy. Why does that not extend to the rest of the world around us? It is not completely unreasonable to say that we do have some accountability for the pollution and trash that has cluttered up the planet. The mounds of plastic in the ocean didn’t just get there by magic. Do we not teach children to clean up after they make a mess? Why are we not asking that individuals and corporations not follow the same rules that we require a 5-year old to follow? Humans made the mess and humans should clean it up. Seems simple. We certainly can’t keep pretending that it’s just going to go away. And as for the cost? There has to be a compromise in there somewhere. In 2018 it was estimated that Americans would spend $72 billion on their household pets. And that was just pet owners in this country. Even further, no pet owner that I know (including myself) has ever begrudged the amount spent on their pet. We can argue about the cost of cleaning up our global environment all we want, but if we can collectively spend $72 billion a year on our furry housemates then I think we can find a way to fund a cleanup. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Goal for the new year – find ways to limit my personal impact on the environment.

3. Technology – AI, social media, privacy and data rights. This is one of the more complicated areas of society in my opinion. Technology improved so rapidly and became so intertwined in our public and private lives that we haven’t had a chance to catch up. During the Industrial Revolution it was never said that the advancement of machines ever controlled us. There were issues that demanded labor laws and safety rules, but men were always in control. I don’t think the same can be said for the technological revolution that we have been undergoing. From my perspective, technology is controlling us which consequently presumes that is a severe lack of any systemic control. We are afraid of AI and its threats to jobs, but on the whole Americans are working more hours than ever before. We allow social media to be used as a tool for manipulation and misinformation. Privacy and data rights are a seemingly luxury item that we have only just begun to discuss. The only control that seems to be in place for technology has a whole seems to be in the hands of what I.T. professionals call black hats – the hackers and pirates that use technology for illicit reasons. I love technology and all that progress that comes with it. However, I also think a certain amount of caution has to be used before completely diving in. Tech companies should not be self-regulated. No other industry has so little oversight. Not to say that we should go to the extreme other end and stifle it with too much government oversight and regulation. But there definitely needs to be some rules and watchdogs. And there will be no assistant or smart home in my near future. I have a rule about being somewhat smarter than the inanimate objects around me. As for social media, privacy and data rights we each have to decide what that means. As consumers there is power in the collective, we just have to decide how to wield that power. Ultimately, we should be making the decision as to how technology and all that comes with it fits in with the lives we want to lead, in the society that we want to have. Whether technology has a positive or negative impact is our responsibility. Goal for the new year: Consciously choose how to integrate technology and support the companies/politicians whose goals align with that integration.

All of that said, the true goal for the new year is to expand my thinking beyond myself. We are taught that decisions have consequences. Of course I’m sure my mother was thinking of me not getting arrested or ending up in a hospital bed. I’ve been successful with that for the most part, so maybe now’s the time to think a little bigger. Imagine what we could do if we all started to think just a little bit bigger this year.

Food delivery services…

I’m addicted. I admit it. Having food delivered from the restaurant of my choice has opened up a whole new world for me. On my nights for dinner, we are no longer limited to pizza or Chinese. It’s fantastic. And yes, I’ve used all the apps. There is a food folder on my phone so that I can group all the apps. Though I have to admit that it doesn’t take the place of a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Luckily we have grocery delivery too.