The holidays are officially over. We’ve rung in the New Year, taken down our trees and gone back to work. We’ve sworn to lose the extra holiday pounds. We’re determined to quit smoking, clean our closet, take more chances. Three months till spring, anyone counting? At least we can use them to focus on improving ourselves.

What if we also made resolutions for our community? How can the valley become its very best? Let me let you in on the key. A community is its people – you, me and our neighbours.

I’ve created Creston’s New Year’s resolutions for 2011. If you also add them to your own list we can make this work.

Learn to love ourselves as a small town:

Because that’s what we are whether you’ve embraced it or not. We can focus on the lack of nightlife, retail giants and bustling city streets. Or we can focus on the time we have to spend with people, the famous small-town feeling and the wide open spaces so worth loving. The more we embrace Creston the more that spirit will spread. We’ll grow, but we haven’t room to ever become a city. That’s just fine. I would miss the small town.

Network with people who care:

This might seem obvious. To have a positive outlook we need to get involved with others who do. It’s not hard to find people who are doing good things. It might be strictly local or it might have a worldwide outlook. Find what you care about. Oh, and also spend time with the people here that you enjoy. If you leave for any longer period of time you’ll all of a sudden realize there are so many awesome acquaintances you forgot to hang out with.

Become an active community member:

You must expect this one from me. I believe it’s important. And I believe we have better opportunity here than most do. What is more important than our health? From a local point of view, the atmosphere of an active town is energetic and inspiring. Active living will also improve involvement appeal in a big way. We can pull it off. Trust me. Every little bit helps.

Improve the local economy through local shopping:

Think of it as a pyramid. If you can, buy locally produced. From there go to purchasing an item at home. To buy something produced in China from a source outside of Canada should be a last resort. A bit of effort into finding the most effective balance is well worth it. I’ve worked enough miscellaneous jobs to have witnessed how a business can survive or suffer based on where you shop. Our businesses are our economy. In addition, local products are beneficial in many different ways, not least of which is quality.

Invest in our youth:

I get it. We’re a retirement community. I’m not going to deny the benefits that come from this. But youth are the future. I’m not saying that we should give more to young people. Honestly, I think they have too much handed to them already. What I mean is, give them chances to fight for it.

Look throughout history. They’re capable of it. Best of all, they know it. It takes just a look at teen pregnancy rates, drug use and mass exodus from the valley to realize that offering a little more opportunity for them would be a good thing. Thank goodness for College of the Rockies courses and the sports programs that exist. What could we bring about for further benefit?

Try seeing the valley with new eyes:

This one is much easier said than done. Last year I was chatting with a friend and I said that I was staying in town and I would have to work to make peace with it. She replied, “What if we pretended we weren’t from here?”
It’s a novel idea, one that twisted my brain around. Generally a simple visit to the grocery store has me running into people who’ve known me since I was born.

It challenged me. It’s not quite possible to truly succeed. What I . . . we can do is try to see our beautiful surroundings through the eyes of a stranger. I started reading bulletin boards, talking to people outside my circle. I learned to appreciate the hidden places I know about.

There are definitely benefits to being a local. Creston is the only place in the world where I can claim that definition. I’ll just continue to work on seeing past that and realizing there are still things left to discover. This year I’ll visit the Skimmerhorn Winery. I’ll plan bowling with my peers who are still in town. I’ll plant some sort of a garden and I’ll visit the farmer’s market. I’ll attend a local production.
What will you do to make Creston its best?

Any ideas for Creston’s resolutions in 2011?
Visit ilovecreston.com to leave your comments and get the discussion going.