New Year is the time for resolutions and the making of decisions that could,
with some luck, improve your life.
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| Which Cup?? |
It is the time, supposedly, for a
new beginning. But one eventually reaches the age when there may not be much room
or time left for self-improvement. “Been there, seen it, done it...” is the
kind of sentiment that runs through the mind. So one might be left wondering
what more is there to be done. “But there has
to be something,” the subconscious nags. “Try and decide before the year
becomes too old and stale and the opportunity for self-betterment is lost for
ever.”
So, over the last couple of weeks,
I’ve been thinking about potential projects to embark on to make 2013,
personally, a better year. I have identified
parameters within which such self-improvement schemes might operate: There
should be nothing too strenuous or inconvenient, such as exercising more or
cutting down on the foods and beverages that I enjoy eating and drinking. However,
I reckon that whatever I might decide on will definitely not be too onerous,
because the appetite for immoderate or excessive indulgence has waned somewhat,
rendering a major course-correction unnecessary. In any case, when I was in
full-time employment we used to talk about CQI, continuous quality improvement, that
is, meaning that you should regard every action, every day, as an opportunity
to make service-delivery better. CQI has followed me to these more leisurely
times, so, even though I don’t have to deliver anything now, I do wake up
every morning thinking of the little ways in which I can do better.
I hope I am not sounding too perfect
for some tastes, but incremental steps have been my guiding principle to the
point that now, at the beginning of another year, I am completely unable to set
myself a meaningful target.
But wait, there is something on which
I need to make a decision: That is, whether or not to get myself some new
wheels. My current motor is now 18 years old and alas, has not been subject to
CQI. When I bought it in 1994, it was an elegant, sleek animal that purred, no -sighed-
like the wind from the desert. But now, after only 100,000 km, it has become tired
and exhausted, with an engine noise that is nearer to that of an attack of
acute bronchitis than to the rustling of the desert breeze. It has a sorry
hesitancy in traffic, exuding thick clouds of black smoke. And its fuel consumption.
Well... that amounts to a regrettable massive, massive carbon footprint.
I hear you: “Get it fixed.” But
there is not a mechanic in this town who has not had his chance (usually a “he.”
Only one “she,” so far…) at assessing, fondling or otherwise tinkering with its
innermost parts. But all to no avail. So, a decision now has to be made to get
some new transport. But we love this car, and the two-car family is not an
option. For now, we are stuck.
Tell Fren Tru
