Here is a prayer that came across my computer as we start the year 2021: Dear God: I begin 2021 with this simple prayer. Please heal the broken people, make well the sick, restore happiness to those in despair. Bring love to the lonely, food to the hungry, and peace to our world. AMEN!! *** Staying with the New Year’s Theme here is a list of the resolutions that Dear Abby published years ago. They were adopted by her from the original credo of Al-Anon and seem relative still today. JUST FOR TODAY: I will live through THIS DAY ONLY. I will not brood about yesterday, or obsess about tomorrow. I will not set far reaching goals or try to overcome all of my problems at once. I know that I can do something for 24 hours that would overwhelm me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime. * JUST FOR TODAY: I will decide to be happy. I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me. * JUST FOR TODAY: I will accept what is. I will face reality. I will correct the things that I can correct and accept those I cannot. * JUST FOR TODAY: I will improve my mind. I will read something that requires effort, thoughts and concentration. * JUST FOR TODAY: I will make a conscious effort to be agreeable. I will be kind and courteous to those who cross my path. And I will not speak ill of others. I will improve my appearance and not interrupt when someone else is talking.* JUST FOR TODAY: I will refrain from improving anybody but myself. * JUST FOR TODAY: I will do something positive to improve my health. If I’m a smoker, I’ll quit. And will get off the couch and take a brisk walk, even if it’s only around the block. * JUST FOR TODAY: I will gather the courage to do what is right. *** And if you need more there is the prayer of St. Francis that also contains a powerful message: Lord make me an instrument of your peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness joy. O Divine Master; Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; To be understood, as to understand; To be loved, as to love; For it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. * Again, Happy New Year, and let’s hope and pray it is much better than 2020. *** And who is St. Francis of Assisi, who is credited with composing the above prayer? He is known for his love of animals and the environment and is credited with the first live nativity scene in 1223 in order to cultivate the worship of Christ. *** Did you know? According to scientific studies by Ocean Conservancy an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic flow into the ocean each year – on top of the 150 million metric tons already floating around. Eradicating the waste is oneof the world's most pressing challenges. +++ The week that ended November 8 saw the average 30 year fixed mortgage rate at 2.8 %, an all-time low. +++ As many people may already know, Wisconsin is the home of Trek bikes, which are manufactured in Waterloo, WI. These iconic bikes are ridden all over the world including big races like the Tour de France. Trek bikes was started back in 1979,when Dick Burke founded Trek Bicycle in a barn. Today, the company has grown into a billion-dollar business. The company is family and employee owned thanks to the Burke family creating an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Employees thus share in the company’s financial success. *** I have received information that the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), with assets of $126.1 billion dollars, is the 9th largest public pension fund in the U.S. and the 25th largest public or private pension fund in the world. That fund covers the pensions for future and current retirees that worked for local, county and state government agencies. *** Here is another segment from the Stanley Correctional Annual Report FY 2020. Perhaps the best known program out at SCI is SCOPES (Stanley Correctional Outreach Program Equals Success). SCOPES receives approved donated raw materials and inmate volunteers then crochet, sew, quilt, and bead items to donate back to the community. SCI donates to a variety of places such as assisted living facilities, safe houses, families in need, and many other community organizations (police, fire departments, schools, area hospitals, U.S. Troops). On average 85-100 organizations receive a large quantity of items to assist with their needs. This program is monitored by a Recreation Leader. +++ Indoor recreation at SCI is provided from 2 gymnasiums. Gyms allow inmates to participate in weight lifting, basketball, handball, pickle ball, volleyball and listening to music in a silent music room. +++ Outside recreation activities include softball, volleyball, half-court basketball, horseshoes, boccie ball, and outdoor workout stations. Intramural activities at SCI include softball, soccer, volleyball, and basketball. All organized activities are monitored by Recreation Leaders. +++ SCI has approximately 170 volunteers who donate their time and talent in leading services, facilitating classes, study groups, and pastoral visits. Volunteers facilitate Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups. +++ Chapel – Religious groups supported by SCI include: Catholic, Eastern Religion, Humanist/Atheist/Agnostic, Islam, Jewish, Native American, Pagan, and Protestant. A chapel library enables inmates to study, listen to, and check out religious materials. Inmates are encouraged to stay in contact with their families through the availability of greeting cards (2 free per month) and at Christmas time, fathers are provided free gifts to send to their children with the gifts provided by The Prison Fellowship Angel Tree and the Salvation Army Toy Program.* ** Smile Time. I’m at the delusional age where I think everyone my age looks way older than I do. +++ Remember when we had to smack the TV because the channel wasn’t coming in clearly? I feel that way about far too many people. +++ My kids will never know the joy of finding a quarter in the coin return of a pay telephone. +++ The older you get the more you appreciate canceling plans, early nights, thunderstorms and alcohol that is on sale. +++ Not to brag, but I just went into another room and remembered why I went in there. It was the bathroom but still…. +++ Why don’t I have any tattoos? For the same reason you don’t put a bumper sticker on a Ferrari. +++ I might wake up early and go running. I also might wake up and win the lottery. The odds are about the same. +++ Accidentally went grocery shopping on an empty stomach and now I’m the proud owner of Aisle 4.