New Year Resolutions
Happy New Year and thank you for coming back to read Unbloused in 2022! I’m really looking forward to sharing more veteran stories with you and working hard to support veteran non-profit organizations. It’s going to be a great year.
If you’re like me New Years doesn’t hold much significance. By that I mean I don’t put much stock in the transformative powers that as the final seconds of the past 365 days tick away and the clock strikes midnight that my life and environment will suddenly, somehow, be different…better. Also, I don’t like staying up late anymore…but I digress.
The time it takes for that last second of the previous year to pass and the New Year begin is insignificant…unless you use that time marker to make a significant change in your life; a New Year’s resolution.
This isn’t a peer reviewed blog (or even a well edited one) so I feel no shame in saying that a quick google search brought up a statistic that 60% of us make a New Year’s resolution but only 8% ever achieve it. That isn’t an entirely shocking statistic. A year is a long time and change is hard, especially if you have to work at it.
Everyone’s resolution is different, though many are shared; lose weight, eat healthier, be more present, etc. These are praiseworthy and often attainable if pursued in earnest but will often falter at the first hangover, cold, or other inconvenience. Others may be more significant and impactful; stop drinking, don’t kill myself, and the ilk, take focus and commitment every single day where a lapse in effort could have a catastrophic outcome.
If you find yourself having made a resolution that falls within the first category, good for you! I hope you achieve it! But I challenge you to make a second one; make a resolution to help others whose resolutions fall into the latter category achieve theirs!
You may be thinking “Whoa…what, that doesn’t sound easy at all!” But it is.
There are lots of ways to achieve this resolution and the best part is you can decided if you want to make it a one time deal out of 365 days or something you do on a monthly, weekly or daily basis. Just be sure to choose a level of commitment you can attain so that at the end of the year you can say you did in fact help Canadian Veterans this year but also helped to blow that abysmal 8% success rate statistic out of the water.
What can you do to help those, especially in the veteran community? Here’s a few suggestions, commit to one, or all of them, or come up with your own, but whatever it is be sure to follow through:
Buy a poppy for more than just the change in your pocket.
Don’t just put a couple quarters, a loonie or twoonie, in the poppy collection box, put a $5, $10, $20, $50 bill in there! Those poppy funds go towards veteran advocacy and other worthy veteran and remembrance related causes.
Support veteran owned businesses.
Many veterans take the organizational and leadership skills they honed in the military to start their own business. Running a business is stressful, stress can lead to many other second order issues. You can help alleviate that stress by shopping with them over other retailers. It is literally money you were planning to spend anyhow…why not support a veteran in the process.
Donate to a veteran non-profit organization.
There are a lot of great organizations doing amazing work helping veterans overcome the hurdles and challenges that a life in service has created for them. Every dollar you give is one more than they had before you contributed and that might make the difference in being able to provide a needed service to a veteran or their family.
Join the Royal Canadian Legion.
Anyone can join! Buy a one year membership in the organization and see what it is about. Connect with local veterans at social functions, hear and share their stories. At the very least, even if you don’t participate in your local legion your membership fees will go towards initiatives that support veterans.
Support Valour in the Presence of the Enemy.
Go to this link to read and sign the commons petition to support the awarding of the Victoria Cross to Pte Jess Larochelle.
If you’re a veteran, reach out to Valour in the Presence of the Enemy on Facebook or Instagram and ask for a copy of the motion you can submit to your city council asking them to support this initiative as well.
Share your story.
If you’re a veteran or have a family member who served sharing your/their story may seem daunting, or embarrassing, or painful…or a combination of those feelings and more. But sharing those stories may help others realize that they aren’t alone in their experiences, feelings, or doubts and that may be enough for them to stay in the fight, seek help and/or share their own story.
Volunteer at a Veterans Lodge/Facility.
Find a veterans retirement home and ask the staff about how you might be able to enrich the life of a veteran. Maybe you have a musical talent you can share or would enjoy playing cards or board games. Whatever it is go get involved in their lives in some way.
To close out tonight’s blog remember this; 2022 is going to be whatever you make it out to be. If you make one of your resolution to help others, and in this case Canadian Veterans, then no matter what happens between now and the fleeting moments the second hand sweeps towards midnight on the eve of 2023 you can be proud of the story you wrote through your actions.
All the best in 2022.
John