New Year, New You

Have to admit, I've never been big on New Year's resolutions. I prefer to think of it as a Fresh Start and go from there. One guy on the web said his resolution is "to remain awesome!" Good luck.

One thing I've been praying over is something I heard on Barbara Walter's recent special as she interviewed Oprah. The latter said, "Every day I pray to God, Use me until you use me up." I wrote the prayer on a sticky note, one of many inspirational quotes that is now attached to my computer frame. (I need a lot of reminders apparently.)

I'm big into being inspired by others. The Plain Dealer is running a series about ordinary people who make a difference in the lives of others. Today featured Akron postal carrier Keith Alan McVey who has saved lives three times (accident, fire, drowning) and Imam Abbas Ahmad and his wife who fostered almost 40 abused children.

These people and others don't need a date on a calendar to make a resolution. They just go about being good people. They live out the "use me until you use me up" mantra. May we all take a lesson from them as 2011 begins to unfold. Happy New Year. Happy New You!