We are just about one month into the new year—how is it going so far? I hope we have “aged out” of New Year’s resolutions. At this stage in our lives, making New Year’s resolutions really shouldn’t be a “thing.” We essentially don’t need to set ourselves up for that pathway to nowhere. By now we should be aware that making so-called New Year’s resolutions generally do not end up resulting in change.
A RESET on the other hand is something that ends up with good results and a few other positive byproducts. Generally, a reset involves making adjustments in either our personal behavior, our environment, or even our personal appearance. This can be as simple and non-complex as changing a hairstyle we’ve been wearing for 20 years, or deciding to stop coloring and allowing the gray to grow out—assuming that we’ve been coloring the gray with intention. Unless you are like me, I’ve been wearing color long before there was any gray simply because I always liked colored hair. And that has not changed. The decision to let gray hair grow out indeed takes some thought but it is an uncomplicated reset. And it can result in self-discovery that releases you from the encumbrance of dye and into the space of joyful acceptance.
A more drastic reset can involve moving or deciding to sell your home—basically downsizing. I have knowledge of a woman who at the age of 80 made the decision to sell her home here in Pittsburgh. She packed up her belongings and relocated to Georgia where she promptly purchased a new $85,000 home. She did not necessarily have a deep reason for doing so other than she was seeking a change—and she got sick of Pittsburgh winters. She was not going to be near children and grandchildren or anything—she did it, just because she could. If you’re not sure what a reset would look like for you, get a life coach (you are seasoned but definitely not too old to secure the services of a life coach to help figure it out). There are many other ways to reset—some simple, and some more involved and take some thought. Make the reset, it can and will place a spark in your spirit.
Additionally, bringing about change as we enter a new year can be a REFRESH. This could look like simply painting the bathroom or changing up the living room. If getting all new furniture is not an option, at the very least move things around, or go on Facebook Marketplace and see if someone is selling something that would be “new” to you. Refresh your bedroom, get a new comforter and curtains; turn an empty room into an office space or even a sanctuary room for yourself. Another sure way to refresh could be getting rid of clutter! Clutter steals your ability to focus! And for sure clearing it up can provide a pathway to the clear thinking you’ve been seeking. Remember, clarity brings peace. In this new season —REFRESH.
I would offer lastly that to RENEW is the most vital of these. Renew involves the intangible and requires real introspective; look at the person we’ve become. You can renew without assuming there is something wrong with you and therefore must change yourself—it does, however, involve identifying an area within you that you’d like to enhance. You could take a class, read more, volunteer or support something you are passionate about. If reading is hard on your eyes, then use books on tape, available through the library, or on Audible Books. Don’t be intimidated, librarians are under-utilized and they love to help people.
Renewing can be the most significant of all of these in this current political climate. Be open to change that will benefit you, be willing to adjust as needed to stand the winds of change prevailing when we least expect. If this life has not taught us anything, it has taught us that there are no promises with the status quo and we need not be so comfortable that we cannot “RESET,” “REFRESH” or “RENEW” as needed.
About the column
(Renee P. Aldrich began writing her “Spotlight on Seniors” monthly column in February 2025. Each month, Aldrich focuses on a specific topic that interests many African American seniors in the Pittsburgh region. We invite you to see any of the columns you may have missed by going online to newpittsburghcourier.com, then search for Renee P. Aldrich under “Contributors.”)
