By Larry Stover

Columnist

I don’t get too fired up about making “New Year’s Resolutions.” Most people keep them for a day or two and that is it. I prefer making some life changing decisions that make major corrections in my life for not only the year to come but for a lifetime.

As I have been reading the Times-Journal for the past few weeks, I am more convinced than ever that as families and a community we all need to make some serious life changing correctives to improve our little corner of the world.

Let’s begin by making a decision to become responsible for our actions and behavior.

The family unit in America is disintegrating at a rapid rate. Homes with a mom and a dad are becoming scarce. Ironically, they are even called “dysfunctional” by some. I talk with kids who have no idea who their father is. It’s not just dads who walk away from their families; moms are doing it more and more. There are many grandparents who are raising their grandkids these days. The family is in trouble.

Our communities would change dramatically if moms and dads would take responsibility for the children they bring into this world. Included in accepting that responsibility would be helping them with their education and teaching them to become responsible adults.

Let’s also learn to take responsibility for our actions. I’m still spinning from the case before Christmas that let a teenager off because of affluenza. He was too wealthy to know the difference between right and wrong.

Excuse me! I realize that at the age of 60, I was brought up in a different era. My father knew how to motivate me to know the difference between right and wrong. The “belt of truth” was applied and I learned quickly. After many applications, I am fine.

If we go through life blaming others or our socio-economic status and for the bad decisions we make, we will never learn to take responsibility for our actions. It’s all about making right choices.

One of my favorite “Stoverisms” goes like this; “You are free to make any choice that you want, but you are not free to choose the consequences of those choices.”

Imagine if the residents of Dallas County resolved in 2014 to begin making good choices. It would change just about everything.

I had a sales associate apologize to me before Christmas, because I had to pay for my item in her department. The customer before me had cussed her out because of it. If we would stop stealing, it would not be a problem.

Imagine the changes! Crime rates would take a nosedive. Single mom birth rates would plummet. Academic scores would rise.

Moms and dads would take better care of their families. We would work harder at our jobs.  We would take our Christian faith seriously.

We would attend church more often. We would become responsible citizens.

Last of all, we would make 2014 “Simply Beautiful!” Let’s do it!