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Show Page Six, Section Two - The Springville Herald - December 25, 2003 Tip8 to top fite Jew's Yeairs rG3IUti(Q)li1S going New Years is a great time to make changes in your life-changes for the better. New Year's resolutions provide pro-vide a great opportunity for you to improve ourself, but how can you ensure you will stick to your plan? Most resolutions get broken for one reason or another. an-other. Are you going to be one of those lucky individuals individu-als who keep their resolutions resolu-tions all year? Here are a few tips to help you weather the temptations. temp-tations. Create a plan. To be successful in staying with your resolution. You need a specific strategy for implementing your goals and sticking to them. Think about what you will do to keep yourself on track. Reduce your stress. Stress adversely affects resolutions res-olutions because many bad habits are stress related. One great way to reduce stress is to get more sleep. Go to bed earlier, and you will wake up with a whole new perspective. Remember why. If you are improving yourself for your family, keep a picture pic-ture of them with you at all times. When you feel tempted, look at the picture and think about how happy they are about your resolution. You can also make a list of other reasons to resist temptation. Put the list in your pocket, on your refrigerator door, in your car and at your workplace. work-place. Never forget your promise prom-ise to yourself. Find a buddy. Everything Ev-erything is easier with help from other people. If you know someone else who has a similar resolution, reso-lution, keep each other motivated. mo-tivated. Avoid tempting evi-ronments. evi-ronments. It you want to stop smoking or drinking, don't go to bars. If you want to lose weight, avoid fast-food fast-food restaurants. Eat right. No matter what your resolution may be, eating healthy foods and drinking more water can make you feel better about yourself and your health overall. Eating the right goods is particularity important if you are trying to lose weight. Losing weight is one of the most common New Year's reolutions peple make. A weight-managemenbt program, like Medifast can help. No matter what your resolution is, don't become discouraged. The key is to keep trying. fife SdMmm c One thing we know we can always bank on, is the integrity and kindness of the many folks in this community we've had the privilege to serve, with that said, we'd like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a nrosnerous K K New Year. Thank you for f , putting your trust in us. J Wells Fargo L Bank j 119 South Main Springville 489-5654 It was my FIRST YEAR teaching drama in junior high, and I was selecting students for the annual Christmas play. I was anxious to prove my ability as a new teacher and wanted only outstanding talented students in the show. Imagine my dismay when the first one to try out was Robert. He was the joke of the school, a small, mentally slow, misfit boy who always looked like an unmade bed. He was definitely not what I wanted, but he seemed so eager, that I decided to make him one of 30 choral scripture readers and hide him on the back row. During the next weeks, Robert became my shadow. He was first to memorize his part and was always waiting by my door to practice. Each rehearsal seemed the most important thing in his life. It was his only chance to belong and do something special. Seeing his total dedication, the other students stopped laughing at him and regarded him with new respect. When it came time to choose one solo reader, I picked Robert, much to the astonishment of other teachers. Knowing it would be impossible financially for students to buy costumes. I told each to bring an old white shirt, and I would dye them red and we would make green ties. Robert came to me in tears. "We don't have any old white shirts at our house," he said. "I have six brothers, and we just wear each other's. If I brought one, my little brothers broth-ers wouldn't have anything to wear. Does this mean I can't be in the play?" I assured him that since I had four sons I would look through my closets and fmd one he could wear. The next week I brought the 30 brilliantly bril-liantly dyed red shirts straight from my clothesline. "Now take these home and have your mothers iron them for dress rehearsal tomorrow. to-morrow. And be sure you look nice," I added firmly. Minutes before dress rehearsal as I was nervously straightening crooked green ties, shouting light cues, and tracking down lost props, I saw Robert in his red dyed shirt, UNIRONED, just the way I had given it to him. Screaming my disapproval, I asked him why it hadn't been ironed. He explained that his mother had been taken to the hospital suddenly, and in all the confusion his sisters had forgotten about it, and he couldn't find the iron. I jerked him by the arm and pushed him to die Sewing m Bebol5 tl)e 6ky oftbe Season M970U and jours find the spirit and joy of the Miracle of Christmas, and bask In the glow of peace, love and understanding. We are truly grateful for your devoted patronage. Room, muttering mutter-ing all the way how he couldn't spoil the whole program with a wrinkled shirt. ... I . shall never forget his shame as T . ordered him to take ,"'. off his shirt so . i could iron it. He unbuttoned it slowly, handed it to me and stood shrinking before me, and a class of giggling girls, in the dirtiest ragged underwear I had ever seen. I quickly ironed the shirt, thrust it at him and marched him back to the auditorium. audito-rium. The rehearsal went smoothly and Robert performed well as usual. I delivered de-livered my final directions direc-tions to the cast. "I want everyone in cos- tume on stage tonight at seven o'clock. And don't be late. I don't want any last minute worries," I added, glaring at Robert. Seven o'clock came. Most of the students were in their places-but no Robert. 7:15 came. All the students were in the places and most of the audience. But no Robert. I was wild. 7:25; came and still no Robert. In desperation, despera-tion, I told another student to read Robert's part so the show could go on. Just as the curtain opened at 7:30, I saw a rather pale, shaken Robert slip into his place. I v ' i I L 1 Z Jr 1 , "9 fi j i Jj sighed with relief, but vowed I would let him know the anxiety he had cause me. Robert performed as if he were inspired. Never have I heard St. Luke given with such simple meaning and tenderness. ten-derness. He held the surprised audience spellbound. After the show I received congratulations congratu-lations from parents, but no one from Robert's family was there. When the crowd had gone, I found him waiting for me. I immediately unleashed my fury, telling him worried I had been. I demanded. He answered me softly. "Just as I was leaving the house, we got a phone call from the hospital. My mother died tonight. But I knew you were depending on me so I came as soon as I could." The years have flown, but the lesson the drama teacher learned lingers.. No matter how many Christmas plays I direct, the angel who proclaims pro-claims PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TOWARD howrETTW'mtr'ways be i an Btrarade "msgat boy named "Why were you so late," ? Robert in a dyed retfshirt. jillfljfgifllflf HOME FOR THE Wherever you may wander, Wherever you may roam ellipse When it comes to celebrating Christmas, There's just no place like home! Friends like you are always welcome. Thank you for visiting us this past year. 'jKiKI8Ca "001213 623 Csrtb C!a Crest JJssC Wheeler Mortuary 211 East 200 South - Springville 489-6021 , |