Posted By janice on December 31, 2009

It’s time to turn the tables. Since I posted what I don’t want to see in the next decade, let’s focus on what I want to see in the new decade. Again, this is no particular order.

1. Appropriate Use of the Word “Hero.” The word is bandied around so much that it’s losing significance. Just because someone is famous doesn’t make them a hero or even a role model. Captain Sully, who landed a plane in the Hudson, is a hero. People who helped others during 9/11 and the Tsunami are heroes.

2. Having Less Stuff and Saving More Money. How much stuff do we need in our lives and in our homes? It’s unfortunate that the economy is deemed healthy when we’re out spending money, not saving it. A little less retail therapy leads to less stuff coming in the door, and that’s a plus.

3. More Laughs. Laughter is the best medicine. Seek the funny, my friends.

4. High Quality Customer Service. I can’t tell you how many conversations my friends and I have had about banks, airlines, and other businesses who have shown poor customer service and downright disrespect of customers. I really hope businesses get it and improve their customer service. Suze Orman is encouraging people to change from national banks to credit unions, and The Huffington Post also suggested that we all move our money from national banks to community ones.

5. Cure for Shellfish Allergies. Where’s the cure? I miss crab cakes and shrimp po boys. Science is obviously ignoring this important issue. It can be a shot or a pill. Either way, I’ll take it.

6. Being Kinder to Mother Earth. It  doesn’t matter if climate change is happening or not. I’ll let the pundits and politicians fight that out while reading about mutating frogs, melting ice caps, and the weird weather. We should be kinder to our planet. I’ll admit that I’ve spent most of my life being a rabid consumer, but I’ve been trying to be more green. It helps that my new neighborhood has an excellent recycling program.

7. Smarter Cars and Roads. I want a car that will drive itself to work. A couple of years ago, I saw a show about adding magnets to the roads to keep traffic moving and eliminating snarls. Can you imagine how much time we would save? Especially in a city like Houston! So I’m waiting for smarter cars and roads.

8. More Decorating Shows on HGTV. Is it me or do more of their prime time shows seem to be on house buying and staging? Even when I was house hunting myself, those shows bored me. Can we get a few more decorating shows back in the prime time hours?

9. The Golden Rule. Imagine if we all practiced this on  a regular basis! Like I said in my last posting, it would be nice if everyone was treated with respect and without regard to who they are.

10. A New Duran Duran Album. Okay, this is a totally selfish wish. Come on, guys! My fellow Duranies and I are waiting. Again.

I know what you’re thinking. I left out two important things: world peace and jetpacks. I know. We were promised jetpacks by now. As for world peace….I’ll leave that to the beauty pageant contestants to handle. 

Happy New Year! I wish you a new year and a new decade filled with joy, peace, and laughter.

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