Remembering What We Hoped for in 2010

A year ago, David Loftus and Ryan John shared with us their hope for what 2010 would bring.  I think it's fitting to look back on what they wrote then, knowing now how the year played out.




Ryan John:

What is my hope for 2010?  Wow, I have a lot of hopes for next year and most of them I don’t even know exist yet. I mean all my life I’ve always have the same big picture, life hopes I dream one day will work out.  But the small hopes change too rapidly and spontaneously for me to even think about. The small ones hit me first thing in the morning as soon as I wake up.  These are the routine things I’ll always hope for that either stems from my mood that minute or my immediate agenda, like getting out of bed on time to making it into work when I’m supposed to. 

Than, throughout the normal course of the day, as usual, I’ll put some sort of effort into hoping things go the way I want at that point in time.  Some days in 2010, my small hope will be to surf the net, daydream about whatever pops in my brain and not really be held accountable for and real, substantial productivity.  These are the days in 2010 when I need my big, life hopes to come in and override those little variable, sometimes detrimental hopes. 

My personal hope for 2010 is to spend less time hoping and more time resolving.  Starting to resolve those burning things inside of me I know I’m capable of.   Small steps towards that direction can take me down the road I know I want to be on.  I need those big hopes in my life to become more of a reality and less of a daydream.  Hope is given me too much of a safety net I guess.  I’m not getting any younger.  My hope for 2010 is more resolve.

David Loftus:

I suppose I could hope for something really wonderful and earth-shaking (in human terms, anyway) like an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a world treaty to stop the production of greenhouse gases, or a dependable alternative energy source that replaces petroleum, but none of those seems to be within the realm of possibility within the next year. There are also things I wish to achieve personally in 2010, but those are mostly in my hands; I regard them as closer to plans than hopes.

So my hope is that most Americans will clear up their consumer debt and stop buying things they don’t really need, especially on credit. In the past, about 70 percent of the Gross Domestic Product has depended on consumer spending, but we have to stop measuring economic health this way. It’s become a big, unending, breakneck cycle of production and consumption, mostly for their own sake. One of the great ironies of the past half-century is that corporate America has managed to sell the notion that spending money is an expression of freedom . . . so that citizens overspend on credit, and succeed in losing their freedom to banks, lending companies, and sometimes even the sheriff.

If Americans were to break out of that rut, they would discover subtle but deep psychological and spiritual rewards. Once free of the accumulation-of-debt-in-order-to-keep-consuming cycle, fewer folks would feel tied down to their particular jobs. They’d be more likely to devote their energies to activities -- even work -- that they love, less likely to cling to neglectful and abusive partners, more likely to spend time with their children, and less likely to turn to drugs (from aspirin and shopping and television to alcohol and heroin) in order to get by. And little by little, the world will become a better, happier place. That’s my hope, anyway.

 On behalf of everyone at AMERICAN CURRENTS, have a happy and healthy New Year!

American Currents First Annual Newsmaker of the Year: The American People - Nikki Lorenzini

We are pleased to announce the first annual American Currents Newsmaker of the Year.  This year, we have chosen a group as opposed to an individual. The Newsmakers of the Year are the American People. They were not chosen for their trials and tribulations during the Great Recession, or for struggling with unemployment.  Instead, we found ordinary Americans going out of their way to help one another. And for that, we honor them. 

 For the past week, I was trying to think back on 2010 to see if there was any person or people that were the biggest news makers for me. Mark Zuckerberg didn't really impress me. I have been using Facebook for 5 + years, so there was nothing new there. Obama is doing his job, Tiger Woods actually admitted he had his affairs, lost his wife, and tried to come back to golfing. Mel Gibson has just about lost it, and Avatar scored big. There were fires, floods, and an oil spill. I could easily say the people who went in to help those victims are influential, but I'm not choosing them because we can always assume that there will be people there to help in major times of need.

I will be going with the news makers who never made major news. These are the people who were the most influential to me: the citizens who do more than what they are called to do.

Last month, I went to a township meeting for the town I live in. The local grocery store got an award for helping out the township with all of their functions, and donating the things that were needed during city sponsored events. The store also contributed to a fund to aide the families of fallen police officers. Then there was a gentlemen who got an award for saving a girl's life who was suicidal and was going to jump off of a local bridge into a creek. I ended up talking with him later that night, and he was saying how he had two small children waiting for him at home to be taken to school. He had brought the young woman into his car and insisted that he take her somewhere, since she refused to go with the police. Another man was honored for helping catch a man who had robbed a local jewelry store.

I am sure that there are plenty of people in the country that are like the above mentioned. They help aid the police and other emergency response teams. I am sure that when the average citizen wakes up in the morning, they only expect to go on their normal routine or the day that they had planned. No one expects to be diverted, especially when their is a life or death situation that might need immediate attention. In fact, who is that attentive while they are driving to spot a girl contemplating jumping off of a bridge? Or who leaps into action to help stop a robber? I am sure we never expect to be put in those type of situations. That is why my news makers of 2010 are the heroic and brave citizens who jump into action in the moment when they are not expecting to do so.

The Battle Between "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" - Nikki Lorenzini

This year, I have been hearing talk about the so called "War on Christmas." People who do not celebrate Christmas are offended over the phrase, and those who do are upset at the dismissal. I seen a website that showed how "Pro Christmas" companies were by the amount of times they mentioned "Merry Christmas" in advertising, and asked that those who don't, are boycotted.

As a Christian, I am truly conflicted over this controversy. On one hand, I am all for keeping the phrase Christmas around. I am confident in what I believe, and what Christmas is supposed to stand for. When I hear people "complain" (which is never, it is just portrayed to me via the media), it does cut to the core a bit since people do not get up in arms about Hanukkah or Kwanzaa.

There is also the problem that even though Christmas is a religious holiday, it also has turned into a secular holiday, in which, over the years, trading gifts became synonymous with the birth of Christ, and then slowly overshadowed it. Now it seems that it has become both an American holiday in which people buy gifts for each other, throw parties, etc. I think the lines of religious vs. secular have now become blurred, and what was once a religious holiday has now become PC so everyone can be at ease celebrating. I am not sure when this has happened, when a holiday that was supposed to be celebrating the birth of Christ was turned into a shopping extravaganza. Ever since I have become a Christian, the whole idea of receiving gifts during this time has totally turned me off. I know I am probably the exception with this.

In Philadelphia, at the City Hall, they have a Christmas Village where there are different vendors there selling their wares. There was a big to do there where people wanted "Christmas" to be taken down. It was for a few days, then put back up because people were made it was taken down. I went there about a week ago. Besides having over priced ornaments, it really didn't get me in the spirit. So having "Christmas" up or not, I  really don't think it would of mattered. The commercialism has gotten totally in the way of the season.

I will not get offended if someone tells me, "Happy Holidays." In fact, I have come to realize that "Happy Holidays" is an all encompassing phrase, not only to include Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, but has the non-religious, including New Years and Thanksgiving. Two holiday's that we all can enjoy, despite religious affiliations. When I am told "Happy Holidays," I will just return it with "Merry Christmas," and understand that they might not believe in the same Christmas as I do.

You Win Some, You Lose Some (or Gain Some) - Jeff Weiss

Last week I was pleased to learn that I had lost one pound after stumbling a bit while following the Weight Watchers plan.  I had expected to have gained more, and I vowed to follow the plan perfectly during the upcoming week.  That said, I can now tell you that it is almost impossible - at least for me - to completely follow any weight loss plan during the week of Christmas.  Last week brought about a full-on cookie assault as everyone I have ever met in my entire life wanted me to eat their freshly baked Christmas cookies.  I stumbled. I fell. And... I gained.

Again, I can't really complain as even after eating more than a few cookies, I only gained .8 pounds. I'm still ahead of the game.  My plan now is to continue to follow the plan "as best as I can" for this week, and then get right back on track the following week.  I know there will a lot of food to tempt me on Christmas, but I will make the best choices available. Just wait to see what I can do when January rolls around!

One Little Cookie... - Jeff Weiss

After having a great first week with Weight Watchers, I settled in for week two fully prepared to continue my weight loss journey the right way. And then there was that cookie. It all started with that one little cookie. I was at a Christmas party, and I had prepared by eating a healthy dinner before the party. I reasoned to myself that I would be full and not tempted by holiday treats, such as... cookies. But this was no ordinary cookie. It was a festive cookie, decorated to look like a Christmas tree. No matter where I went or what I did, that one little cookie was there. The cookie was in the corner of my eye while I was listening to a friend tell me about her exhaustive holiday shopping.  The cookie was in front of me when I reached over to get a glass of unsweetened iced tea.  The cookie was across the room, it's sugar coating glistening in the light as carolers sang in the background. Why was no one eating that cookie? Was the entire universe signaling for me to eat the cookie? Probably not, but I ate it anyway. And you know what happens when you eat one cookie - you eat a few more.

Two nights later, I found myself at another holiday party and this time it was a sit down dinner.  I panicked when I realized that antipasto, stuffed shells, meatballs, and garlic bread would be my only choices.  I took small portions and was actually proud of myself, when suddenly someone brought out a cookie tray.  After I consumed the third (or fourth) cookie, I realized that I would be weighing in at my meeting in 12 short hours.  I resigned myself to the fact that I had probably gained weight, and decided that I would spend the upcoming week following the Weight Watchers plan to a "T."  I went to my meeting, and... I lost a pound! Now, I'm no Nikki Lorenzini who's dropping pounds faster than she breathes, but I'm pleased with my progress.  And I will follow the plan exactly this week!

Slimming Down - Nikki Lorenzini

It has been two weeks since I have updated you guys about my Weight Watchers trek. The week of Thanksgiving I lost 9 lbs. Yes, 9, which put me down to a total 25 lb weight loss. Not sure how I did it. That was with me gorging on an ice cream sundae, Thanksgiving dinner, and barely any exercise. I am still baffled.

 

Then the website yelled at me. Saying I am loosing too much, too fast. So I ended up gorging on food purposely this week. Was horrible at tracking my food, and frankly, I tried not to care. After 3 weeks of my diet, I felt horrible acting this way. Really horrible. Not a horrible in the sick feeling. Horrible as in, I can't believe I acted that way after working so hard. There were days when I woke up not even hungry because I was so full from the night before. Not a fun feeling.

 

Even with that, I was still able to loose another 9 lbs this past week. Now I am up to almost 35 lbs lost. I am still baffled by that, and I am still waiting for myself to plateau. I only wish I could enjoy this more.

 

Besides that horrible feeling, my pants are actually feeling better. My co-worker told me the other day that my clothes don't look any different. I told her it was because I always wore long, loose tops, and never bothered getting new pants. Just squeezed into the ones I had. I have been more motivated to take the stairs instead of the elevator when I have to go into the basement at work. I actually feel better, and partly because I can breathe without feeling the need to work at it. That was only after loosing 25 pounds.

 

Now my next step is to look for a gym.

Change is Good - Jeff Weiss

Last week, I shared with you about how I joined Weight Watchers.  I joined the week the new "PointsPlus" system was unveiled, and I found it to be rather easy to follow.  Apparently others didn't feel the same way.

I knew I had to have lost a pound or two because I could feel it in my clothes - not to mention that I followed the plan to a tee.  It had to have worked, right? I went to the meeting, stepped on the scale and was told that I had lost 5.8 pounds.  I was happy, and felt a sense of an accomplishment.  I stayed for the meeting, where the Weight Watchers leader asked the group what they thought of the new point system as opposed to the old point system. I couldn't answer the question as I hadn't been on the old system, but I was curious about what the others thought. Oddly, no one answered the leader's question.  Next, she asked if anyone saw a change in their meal planning with the new program.  Again, no one replied, but I think I heard a cricket chirping in the distance.  Then the leader realized what I had already figured out: the members who had previously used the old points system didn't switch over to the new system when following the plan at home.  Instead, they continued to use the old formula.

At this point, the leader began to politely explain that she understands when people are reluctant to change, and that it took her a few weeks to adapt to the new program (Weight Watchers employees have been testing the new point system for a few months).  Most of the members explained that they are too busy this time of year to learn something brand new.  Finally, a member said she followed the new system reported that she felt more satisfied than she had previously.  I stated that I didn't have any problems following the plan, as I was able to check points values from my smart phone.  Apparently we were the only two in the meeting who had used the new system. 

The meeting drew to a close and the leader asked if anyone had anything to celebrate (Weight Watchers' polite way of asking if anyone has lost any weight), and the only two members that lost weight last week were the lady who felt satisfied on the new plan and myself.  Suddenly, the other members started opening their pocket guides to check out the PointsPlus plan.  Change isn't always easy, but it can be good.

Jumping on the Weight Loss Bandwagon - Jeff Weiss

 Count me in.  I'm joining Nikki and so many others who have committed to lose weight in the upcoming year.  And - again like Nikki - I've joined Weight Watchers.  Weight Watchers has been around for almost fifty years,
starting off as a neighborhood group meeting that eventually turned into large corporation with over forty thousand employees.  However, the philosophy is the same: people tend to lose more weight and keep it off when supported by a group as opposed to going it alone.  All of that sounded great to me, so I joined. 

I had a lot to learn at my first meeting, where I was greeted by friendly staff who explained that everyone is starting off new with me, as Weight Watchers has completely revamped their program for the first time in over a decade.  The meeting itself was informative, and the speaker (the Weight Watchers term is "leader") did a nice job of explaining the program.  It all seems pretty simple to me. Everything that is consumed is assigned a point value. Individuals have a daily point allotment that must be consumed.  So far, so good.

I'll check back next week to let you know my progress.