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JANUARY 9, 2026
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RESOLUTION#1 T
JUNIOR’S STORY We have a cat. His name is Junior. Junior is actually a she, but for some reason we always refer to her as a him. We really didn’t choose to have Junior; he chose us. He started out as basically a neighborhood cat, showing up as a little kitten (hence his name, at least at our house) around 10 or 11 years ago on an erratic timetable: we might see him three days in a row and then not again for a week. He came and went on his own schedule, and whenever he did we fed him and petted him before he disappeared again. A neighbor said she had Junior fixed so there wouldn’t be junior Juniors running around, but Junior was an outdoor cat, and never had another vet visit until around 2020. He was practically unconscious that day, so we took him to the vet, and although the diagnosis was uncertain, whatever the treatment was worked and pretty soon Junior was as healthy as ever. Since then, Junior became more and more our cat. He was always on the front porch first thing every morning waiting for breakfast when we opened the door to the day. He might disappear all day or sleep on the porch all Please see JUNIOR page 3
his time of year many people are resolved to make themselves better human beings in the months ahead. Typical New Year’s resolutions include losing weight, exercising more, paying off bills or reducing debt, and never missing an issue of the Medical Examiner. Those aren’t bad goals; they are actually very good ones, especially if they can be reached. None of them are what we have in mind for Resolution #1, but as long as we’re here first, let’s pull over for a few moments and talk about those typical goals and how to achieve them. You probably already know these pointers, but reminders are always useful. First, choose goals that are realistic. “Compete in the Boston Marathon” is an insane goal if you currently aren’t even a runner. On the other hand, if you average 5-7 miles every other day and occasionally run 15 miles at a time, a trip to Boston is not an unreachable goal. Once you have realistic resolutions in mind, the other key is to make them measurable. If your goal is to lose weight, it’s best to be specific enough that you will
know if you’re succeeding or not. So a better goal might be “lose 3 lbs by the end of the month,” followed by a new goal for the next month. If it’s a money goal, make it similarly specific and measurable: “Put $50 from every paycheck into savings.” Standard New Year’s resolutions are worth pursuing. Nearly all resolutions eventually fail or are forgotten, but each day, week, or month they can be kept is a good thing. But let’s get back to our idea for a better way to change in the coming year. Yes, even better than losing weight, getting out of debt, and reading every issue of the Medical Examiner. Here’s our resolution: be nice. Before you dismiss this as ridiculously simplistic, consider the implications. Imagine how putting those two words into practice could benefit your marriage and family life: a better relationship with your spouse, your kids, your parents. Picture how being a nicer person could improve things with your neighbors and coworkers. But there is much more. Think about how often you personally Please see RESOLUTION #1 page 11
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