By Nancy Patrick

I know this is the time of year that many people join gyms, go on diets, promise to practice quiet time in Bible study and prayer, stop drinking or smoking, quit using profanity, pledge to be better mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, daughters, or sons. I have probably made all those resolutions at one time or another (minus drinking or smoking—I never succumbed to those two)!

If you have made New Year’s resolutions, I wish you luck. I never accomplished most of the good intentions I had, but I did hear someone suggest something I probably can do. The man suggested a plan to find something to like or enjoy every day of the year. His first item on the list was his love of ice cream.

Since I tend toward negativism or pessimism in my own life, I thought it might be an excellent idea for me to refocus my negative energy on positive aspects of life. I haven’t made the list of 365 items I love or appreciate, but I have the start below:

1. My husband Mike
2. My son Jason
3. My dog Gracie
4. Granddaughter Hannah
5. Hannah’s boyfriend Josh
6. Hannah’s and Josh’s move to Virginia
7. House and home
8. Enough money
9. Abundant food
10. Reliable car
11. Neighbors
12. Friends
13. Church
14. Pastor
15. Church staff
16. Health
17. Decent family of origin
18. Intelligence
19. Kindness
20. Empathy
21. Sympathy
22. Generosity
23. Safety
24. Clean air
25. Education
26. Teaching career
27. Former students
28. Ice cream
29. Hamburgers
30. Potato chips
31. Comfortable bed
32. Perfect pillow
33. Electricity
34. Gas
35. Water
36. Babies
37. Puppies
38. Kittens
39. All baby creatures
40. Encouraging words
41. Positive people
42. Flowers
43. Love
44. Fairness/justice
45. Honesty
46. Tolerance
47. Open-mindedness 
48. Forgiveness
49. Hospitality
50. BBC
51. KERA

I plan to expand on the list as the days go by, and I can also describe and differentiate among the items on the list. For example, I can name many qualities of my husband and son, and those specifics will become separate entries for gratitude.

The same applies to other categories such as potato chips. I find such pleasure in the variety of chips offered: kettle chips, sour cream and onion, baked, Doritos, Fritos, and on it goes!

One more example for expansion involves friends. I love the idea of naming my friends one by one and thinking about their individual characteristics. Some are fun loving; others, prayer warriors; still others, generous to a fault.

For a person like me who often has to look diligently to find the good and lovely, the steadfast and strong, and the worthwhile and precious, this new endeavor may stretch my thinking and improve my outlook on the prospects for 2026.

Nancy Patrick is a retired teacher who lives in Abilene and enjoys writing