LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Ten Challenges for your New Year


Sunrise over Lamorinda Photo Andy Scheck

The sun has risen on a brand new year - you've been given a clean slate, and a chance to make good on your best intentions. Here come the resolutions - fast, furious and often futile. Diet. Exercise. Clean clutter. Read more. Learn a new skill. Really... haven't we heard it all before?
Let's consult Time magazine's list of most-forgotten resolutions, and tackle them all without leaving Lamorinda:
1. Lose weight
To lose weight, eat less (see #4) and exercise more. For exercise, get outside in Lamorinda. Hike Briones Trail, Mulholland Ridge, run the Rez, or bike the St. Stephen's or Lafayette Moraga Trail.
2. Quit smoking
With California's "spare the air" attitude, it's tough to even find places to smoke nowadays. Smoking is banned in most public places, including state and county owned buildings and vehicles. If you're caught smoking where you shouldn't, fines are $50 to $200, and repeat offenders are subject to $500 fines. You may as well give it up now, and get a head start on item 5.
3. Learn something new
Take a class, for love of learning. Read something written by a local author. Head to lectures or performing arts presentations at St. Mary's College, or by Orinda's Starlight Players or Cal Shakes; attend a California Independent Film Festival showing or a live play at Lafayette Town Hall Theater. Enroll in a Lamorinda community center class. You could learn to play the ukulele, speak a foreign language, take an outdoor exercise "boot camp" or cook something new.
4. Eat better/diet
What better way to do that than by treating yourself to fresh produce at one of Lamorinda's weekly farmer's markets. In the bargain, you get fresh air and a chance to socialize. Lafayette Farmer's Market runs May through September, Thursday, 3:30 to 7:00 p.m., in the Plaza, Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Moraga Road. Orinda Farmer's Market in Orinda Village runs April through November, Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Both are Contra Costa County Certified Farmer's Markets. The Moraga Farmer's Market is a member of the California Farmer's Markets Association. The market runs year round on Sundays, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. out of the Moraga Shopping Center.
5. Get out of debt/save money
Pocket that BART fare when you casual carpool to work! Run errands around town on bike and save gas. Shop for gently-used clothing and household goods at local stores. Find a good read at a fraction of the cost at the Lafayette, Moraga or Orinda Friends of the Library used book store.
6. Spend more time with family
Explore items 3, 8 and 9 with them.
7. Travel
It's nice in Lamorinda, so take a "staycation" instead. Eat out locally-your choice of American cuisine, or Italian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, French. Find a new neighborhood and explore it on foot. Travel back in time by visiting your community's historical society.
8. Be less stressed
Walk the dog. Play like a kid at a park, playground or trail. Grind, carve or perform ollies at a skatepark. Play like an adult with a round of Petanque or Bocce on local courts. Play disc golf. Watch a free outdoor movie or attend a concert in the park during summer, or splash around in a high school swimming pool.
9. Volunteer
Give your time and talent to a local school - it's what makes Lamorinda consistently great. Give blood, drive seniors to appointments, make or deliver meals, teach a skill or craft and help others learn something new. Join your neighborhood watch, work with scouts, or help out at community events.
10. Drink less
Dare we say that in an area with up and coming vineyards? Instead, let's just say drink discerningly, and substitute quality for quantity. Keep it local. It goes without saying to keep it legal too-don't drink and drive, and don't let others do that either.
There's your list. Pick a favorite or tackle them all, and get back to me in 365 days (2012 is a leap year). I'll be the thinner, non-smoking, erudite, eating-right, debt-free, fun-with-family, Lamorinda-travelled, stress-free, light-drinking volunteer you'll see around town!