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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 2018)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL JANUARY 3, 2018 3A How to keep a New Year's resolution Teen raises funds for the homeless I n the heat of the New Year’s Eve count- down, fueled by enthusiasm and possibly a few glasses of cham- pagne, resolutions may roll off of the tongue. But come the morning of Jan- uary 1, such resolutions may not hold the same appeal. Between 40 and 45 percent of the American population will make a New Year’s Resolution, according to polling by researchers at the Univer- sity of Scranton. Research suggests that only about 8 percent of people stick with those resolutions and achieve their goals. The outlook is similar for Canadians, 31 percent of whom set New Year’s resolutions. Among those that do, three-quarters will break them, according to a poll from Ipsos. A survey of online shoppers who visited the website FreeDeliveryLand.co.uk revealed that the average length of time a person can expect to pursue their New Year’s resolution is around three and a half weeks, or 24 days. Maintaining resolutions can be a resolution in and of itself. For those who want to push through the fail point this year — and stay strong in the face of tempting desserts and the craving to light up a cigarette — these sugges- tions may help resolutions stick. • Start small when picking resolu- tions. Rather than resolving to lose 50 pounds, start with a more manageable goal, such as losing 10 pounds. When you reach the goal, you will feel more confi dent and then you can up the ante. • Set a reasonable time frame. Be re- alistic when deter- mining how long it will take to achieve your goal. Achiev- ing a diffi cult goal can take time, so don’t expect overnight success. • Practice self-control in all aspects of life. Some researchers believe that the self-control necessary to help people maintain their resolutions is like a muscle that needs to be exercised. When self-con- trol is revved up across many different activities, it’s easy to realize one particular resolution. For example, in an experi- ment at the University of Albany, researchers asked 122 smokers who were trying to quit to practice extra self-control for two weeks, either by avoiding sweets or by squeezing on a grip strengthener for as long as they could twice a day. Twenty-seven percent of those who were diligent about practicing their self-control exer- cise successfully kicked their cigarette habit in the following month, com- pared with just 12 percent of volunteers who didn’t maximize self-control. • Get support or talk it out. Speaking about what you are going through and getting reassurance from other people can work wonders to strengthen re- silience. When the desire to quit sneaks up, you can consult with a friend or consider a support group. For example, taking a group class at the gym may be a more effective motivational tool than working out solo. • Set up an accountability system. Institute a rewards system for your success. You might even use a monetary system as a double-bonus. When you stick to a resolution over a predetermined period, put a dollar in a jar. If you fall off course, take a dollar away. Find the incentive that works for you. Resolutions are made and broken every year. Make this the year you realize your resolution. NEW LOCATION! ONE SEATING! SAME PRICE! SAME GREAT FOOD AND FUN! By Caitlyn May cmay@cgsentinel.com It all started when Destiny Duerst recieved a life-sized Christmas stocking from her best friend. "I didn't know where to put it or what to do with it," she said. "My fi rst thought was, really, that we should fi ll it with clothes and stuff for the homeless." Duerst, 19 and a Cottage Grove native, started a Face- book page to solicit donations for her project, "Help the homeless stay warm," and has so far collected nine bags of clothes, blankets and gloves as well as $120 in donations to purchase additional items. According to the yearly point in time count conducted by Oregon Housing and Community Services as part of a nationwide effort to count homeless populations around the country, homeless stats are up six percent from 2015. In Lane County, 1,529 were identifi ed as homeless; 164 were marked as veterans--the sec- ond-highest homeless veteran population in the state behind Multnomah—which includes Portland. According to the data provided in the county, a larger percentage of the homeless population suffers from mental illness (14 percent) than addiction (12 percent). Of those with a mental illness or addiction, 68 percent were unsheltered, rather than considered sheltered homeless meaning they sought lodging in places HUD defi nes as not traditional living quarters. Individuals living in cars, on the street, in parks and abandoned buildings are considered to be unsheltered. To be con- sidered sheltered, individuals must be seeking lodging in emergency shelters, transitional shelters or otherwise being housed in lodgings meant for people to live in. By mid-January, Duerst says she's going to walk the streets of Cottage Grove, allowing homeless individu- als to choose their clothing. An online fundraising effort with a goal of $500 has raised $80 as of Friday, Dec. 28 and Duerst plans to increase fundraising efforts in January. "We're having a spaghetti feed," she said. "It's at the Elk's Lodge on Jan. 13 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. It's a $5 donation and anyone under fi ve-years-old will be $2." All the funds raised will go towards purchasing more blankets and coats as temperatures continue to drop. Local Beds for Freezing Nights continues to be activat- ed when the temperature drops below freezing but for nights that it hovers in the high 30s, Duerst hopes to provide warmth for those left outside. Top stories of 2017 Honorable Mentions A waterline break in the fall damaged several res- idents homes in the area of 14th St. The city later said it wasn't at fault and therefore not fi nancially responsible. Governor Kate Brown visited Cottage Grove High School as part of a tour promoting Oregon's spot as one of the states that succeeded in lowering tobacco use. The student leadership presented Brown with gifts while Brown, in turn, gifted trees to the students to be planted on campus. South Lane Mental Health Director Tom Wheeler announced at the start of the year that he would be stepping down from his position after more than two decades as the organization's top seat. Rosie the Riveters celebrated "Ringing with Ros- ie" by ringing a church bell in time with Rosies around the world. Insuring your life helps protect their future. Matt Bjornn ChFC RICP, Agent 1481 Gateway Blvd Cottage Grove, OR 97424 Bus: 541-942-2623 www.bjornninsurance.com It can also provide for today. I’ll show you how a life insurance policy with living benefits can help your family with both long-term and short-term needs. GET TO A BETTER STATE. CALL ME TODAY. ® State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY or WI) State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI) Bloomington, IL 1203087.1
