Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are or where we are going in this ocean of chaos, it has been the authorities – the political, the religious, the educational authorities – who attempted to comfort us by giving us order, rules, regulations, informing – forming in our minds – their view of reality. To think for yourself you must question authority and learn how to put yourself in a state of vulnerable open-mindedness, chaotic, confused vulnerability to inform yourself. ~ Timothy Leary

During the last few years, minimalism has gained a lot of popularity. I’ve been on my journey towards living minimally for about three years, first selling most of the 350 DVDs I’d collected over the years. Today I’m shuffling through the last piles of Stuff scattered around the apartment. What I’m left with are the things that only a few months ago, I thought I’d never be able to get rid of. My statue collection, travel guides, musical equipment…the things I love the most.

The problem? They just sit there wasting space, and collecting dust.

Minimalism isn’t about going without. It’s about having exactly everything you need. No more, no less. And while most of my personal belongings could fit into the trunk of my car, I still have far more than I need. Over the next year, I intend to further pare down the things I own to the point where I have only what I need.

And by “need” I don’t mean “need to survive.” I need a snowboard if I want to snowboard, and I need a rope to rock climb. As I eliminate items that no longer give value to my life, I intend to acquire more things that will create value. That is what minimalism means to me. It’s not about owning a certain number of items, or going without something you really want just because you don’t need it.

Over the next year, anything that doesn’t provide real value will be dealt with accordingly. By next January, everything I own will have a purpose.

Rare are the moments when what happens next will influence the rest of your life.

But that’s exactly where my life is today. It’s both exciting, and frightening. After years of being in the classroom, I finally graduated last week. I guess that means I’m a scientist. (Weird.) And now that I’m a scientist, at least in my education, it’s time to change the world. How, exactly, I go about doing that is yet to be determined.

Even though I’ve graduated, I’m enrolled in classes for Spring semester. I haven’t had much luck (any luck) finding a job (any job.) Instead of hanging around the apartment feeling sorry for myself, I’m going to use that time to further my education. There were some classes that I didn’t have an opportunity to take before graduation, and now that I have the time, it’d be a waste not to use it to my benefit.

Enrolling in classes isn’t without problems. If I receive an invitation to serve in the Peace Corps, I may have to drop out of school as early as April. But that’s only if I receive an invitation, and my departure date isn’t delayed for any reason. I’ve heard horror stories about that. At this point, I still have to submit what I hope will be the last of my medical information, which I expect will be mailed out within a couple of weeks. I still have one appointment before the paperwork is complete.

For a while I questioned whether the Peace Corps was the right choice for me at this point in my life. I think it is. An opportunity like this rarely presents itself…I’d be a fool to turn it down. And after writing a research paper about the connection between poverty and the environment in Tanzania, I feel like I have a better understanding of the types of issues I might be dealing with during my time in Africa. Knowledge is power! And now that I know more about the problems, I feel empowered to do my part to help. I might not be able to save the world, but I can help dig a well, or build a school.

Two years is a long time, and I know it’ll put a strain on my relationship with Erin. How could it not? Long distance relationships are notorious for problems. As much as I’d like to think our relationship is strong enough to weather the time apart, I don’t take it for granted that we’re not immune from the same problems other couples face. That said, I really think that if anyone can do it, we can.

In the meantime, until I hear something from the Peace Corps, I’ll continue looking for work. My job search will be limited to jobs that I wouldn’t have any issue quitting at the drop of a hat. It’d be a lot more difficult to quit a job I went to school for, and those are the kinds of bridges I’m not willing to burn, even for the Peace Corps.

And if none of the above works out, I’ll begin applying for graduate school. My school of choice is the University of Denver where I’d study Environmental Science, and specialize in Environmental Health. If I can get in. This would knock out Goal #63) Attend college in another state.

What’s all of this mean for my goals over the next year? A lot. If I’m not living in Africa in a few months, 2012 will be the year of climbing. If I am living in Africa, 2012 will be the year of climbing. Next year I’d like to climb Mount Whitney, Devil’s Tower, Kilimanjaro, and Ancient Art. I’d like to spend some time in Yosemite this summer…climbing.

I thought I’d get to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon last July, but it didn’t work out. This year I’ll get my permit application submitted earlier than two weeks in advance. I’d also like to visit the last few states of America, and finally visit all 50. Alaska will be the most difficult, but who knows…it could happen. Anything is possible.

Are you looking forward to what the future has in store for you?

I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions. I think they’re pointless. Each year people take an inward look at themselves, pick out the things they hate the most, and promise to do better next year. We all know what happens next…most people fail to change anything.

Why?

Because they don’t actually want to change. If someone really wanted to change, they wouldn’t wait until New Year’s Eve to decide to fix what’s broken. If they weren’t concerned about “the issue” prior to New Year’s Eve, they’re not going to be concerned about it for too long after.

Despite all this, I’ve decided that I’ll be making at least one resolution this year.

I have a love/hate relationship with Facebook. I find it to be a valuable tool that allows me to keep in touch with friends, stay current with the news, and be in the know with all kinds of things. If it wasn’t for Facebook, I wouldn’t have met Marilyn Manson. The problem is that I waste a ton of time. Being so connected means I’m constantly being pulled in different directions, engaging in conversations (read: arguments) with complete strangers about politics, the environment, religion, etc.

I’ve found that being so connected has turned me into a bit of an asshole (some might say a lot of an asshole.)

By nature I’m a sarcastic person, and Facebook has given me a direct avenue to be a smartass (usually in a good-natured way, though it doesn’t always come across as such.) And for people who don’t know me well, my sarcasm isn’t appreciated. I’ve been unfriended on numerous occasions for a variety of reasons. I know I shouldn’t let such things bother me, but they do. I’m not a mean person in “real life,” but I am on Facebook.

In an effort to change all of this, as well as free up time that could be put to better use elsewhere, I’m resolving to reduce the time I spend on Facebook to one hour a day. While that might not seem like a big deal to some people (and to others it might sound insane), it’s going to be a challenge. Instead of logging on to see what people are doing, my time on Facebook will need to be productive. Say and do what’s important, and log off.

In order to keep me honest, I’ve installed a program (FB Limiter Pro, $14.99) that will automatically block Facebook after an hour of use. I don’t want to have to track my time, and I know that I won’t always have the willpower to shut shit down on time. This is the easiest solution.

I know I’m not the only person who wants to spend less time on Facebook…I mean, really, what’s so damn important? (Nothing.) Will you join me in this “revolution?” Just think of what you’d be able to do with all the extra time!

It’s hard to believe 2011 is little more than a memory.

I feel like the year was less about accomplishing things than preparing for the next phase of my life, which has now reached a precipice. 2012 will be an exciting year, filled with dramatic change. As much as 2011 was about preparing for the next phase, 2012 will be that next phase.

But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s take a look at the goals I accomplished over the past year:

• Goal #41) Ride in a Hot Air Balloon – Taking flight the old fashioned way
• Goal #43) Take a Calculus Class – Was it worth it?
• Goal #65) Earn my Bachelor Degree
• Goal #91) Meet Marilyn Manson – Meeting the man that changed my life
• Goal #98) Witness a Space Shuttle Launch – A historical moment!
• Goal #121) Take a late night cruise on Mulholland Drive
• Goal #124) Ride a Unicycle – Who needs two wheels when you can ride one?
• Goal #128) Fight the Forces of Evil in Metropolis – “Pretending” to be a superhero
• Goal #129) Have a Fortune Teller Predict My Future - Will he be right?
• Goal #136) Find Graffiti by Banksy – Art appreciation on the streets of LA
• Goal #141) Visit Monument Valley – Watching shooting stars in the desert night sky
• Goal #146) Visit Every UNESCO Site: Chichen Itza - Only 195 more to go

I started out the year in Paris at the Eiffel Tower for New Year’s Eve, and then spent the next two weeks riding the train around Europe.

• Bonjour! - The City of Love isn’t very romantic
• Roma, Italia - A moment of compassion
• From Rome to Home - Reflecting on where I’ve been, and what’s to come
• Farewell Switzerland - Where I fall in love with the city of Lucerne

My international travel this year was quite minimal in comparison to past years. After returning home from Europe, Erin and I booked a trip to Cancún, a place I’d never had any interst in visiting. Actually, we weren’t supposed to go to Cancún, but instead use it for a quick stop over on our way to Cuba. I chickened out.

• National Lampoon’s Cancún Vacation

So much of 2011 was spent trying to witness a Space Shuttle launch, it’s really a wonder I was able to accomplish anything else!

• Fail: Witness a Space Shuttle Launch - #fail. Or so I thought!
• Will I Witness a Space Shuttle Launch Afterall? - Another chance?
• Initiate Launch Sequence - #fail. Again…
• Goal #98) Witness a Space Shuttle Launch - GREAT SUCCESS!

And, of course, a lot of effort went into applying for the Peace Corps this past year. Unfortunately, I’m not yet finished jumping through hoops. I just hope it won’t be for naught.

• Update: Goal #107) Join the Peace Corps - About how I fucked up my interview
• Update: Goal #107) Join the Peace Corps - Receiving my nomination to serve in Africa
• Peace Corps Medical Review - Getting stabbed, jabbed, poked, and prodded…all in the name of science
• What Does the Future Hold? - Doubting myself, and questioning my decision of joining the Peace Corps
• Going Through Changes - Trying to figure things out

I didn’t accomplish all the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year. I didn’t give away $100 to a complete stranger, though I did give away $100 to the winner of my What’s on Your Bucket List Challenge (something I enjoyed so much, I may have to do it again in 2012). I didn’t go skinny dipping, and I didn’t climb Devil’s Tower. I didn’t join CrossFit, nor did I kayak at the Apostle Islands. Actually, looking back at the goals I set for myself at the beginning of 2011, I didn’t accomplish many of the things on that list. And that’s okay. The things on that list weren’t really a priority when I put them on the list, so it’s no wonder they didn’t get done.

Next year will be huge…it may be the most important year of my life. I’m both excited, and nervous about what’s to come.

More on that later!

In writing this paper, I feel somewhat more prepared for the kinds of issues I might face if I’m offered a position with the Peace Corps in Africa. I’m also much more excited about visiting Tanzania, and if things don’t work out with the Peace Corps, it’s first on my list of places to visit.

The problems in Tanzania are real. But in researching this paper, despite all of the challenges facing the country, I believe things will improve. Slowly. The government seems to place a high value on the natural resources, and the environment. Unfortunately, it’s been difficult to enforce the policies that are designed to protect the environment because Tanzanians struggle with poverty. People who live hand to mouth are concerned with survival, and convincing them to look beyond today is a challenge. Some big changes are required, and investments to infrastructure will need to be massive.

But I have hope.

“The environment provides the basic resources for virtually all socioeconomic activity in the country, and is a foundation for the eventual alleviation of abject poverty.” ~The Government of Tanzania

With thirty-six percent of its population living in poverty, and an economy based on fragile natural resources, the nation of Tanzania faces a unique situation: balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship. Because all the main economic sectors of Tanzania – agriculture, mining, tourism, wildlife, forestry and fisheries – are based on natural resources, that growth must be done in a way that preserves the environment.

In fact, the environment is so important to the economy of Tanzania that, while considered to be one of the major contributing factors of poverty, it is also seen as the “foundation for [the] eventual alleviation of abject poverty” (Tanzania National Website, 2011).

Environmental policy objectives have been set forth by the Tanzanian government, and are designed to:

• Ensure sustainability, security and equitable use of resources;
• Prevent and control degradation of land, water, vegetation, and air;
• Conserve and enhance the natural and man-made heritage, including the biological diversity of unique ecosystems of Tanzania;
• Improve the condition and productivity of degraded areas including urban and rural settlements in order that all Tanzanians may live in safe, healthful, productive and aesthetically pleasing surroundings;
• Raise awareness and understanding of the essential linkages between environment and development, and promote individual and community participation in environmental action, and;

Despite the policy objectives set forth by the Tanzanian government, Tanzania faces environmental problems that threaten the growth and development of the economy. The current levels of consumption of natural resources are unsustainable. Soil degradation, deforestation, desertification, and loss of biodiversity all threaten economic growth, and further degradation of the natural environment will only exacerbate the issue of poverty. Therefore, it is vital to find ways of implementing policies and enforcing mechanisms for sustainable exploitation of the natural resources (Tanzania National Website, 2011c).

Agriculture, the Environment, and Rural Poverty

Due to climate and topography, less than five percent of the land in Tanzania is arable, and the agricultural industry is comprised primarily of small farms operated by peasants in the central plateau region. Seventy percent of those farms are cultivated by hand (Tanzania National Website, 2011b). Still, agriculture is the foundation of the economy, providing employment to eighty percent of Tanzanians, accounting for almost forty-five percent of the national income, and sixty percent of all exports (Tanzania – Environmental Policy Brief, 2011).

Although agriculture provides employment to the vast majority of the Tanzanians, poverty is highest in rural regions (where about eighty-seven percent of the poor live), and is highest amongst households that depend on agriculture to earn a living.

Increased productivity is essential in reducing rural poverty, but must be done in a way that maintains or improves the quality of the land. About sixty percent of the land already faces desertification problems, and soil degradation in the central plateau exceeds natural regeneration rates (Tanzania – Environmental Policy Brief, 2005).

Low soil fertility, underdeveloped irrigation potential, infestations, and disease are all issues affecting productivity. Because the majority of the farmland is rain fed, irrigation is considered to be the key to improving food security, and increasing productivity and incomes. Expanded irrigation practices could also lead to the production of higher valued crops such as vegetables and flowers (Tanzania National Website, 2011b).

Unfortunately, Tanzania’s surface water resources are already overstretched, and rivers that used to flow year-round have started to dry up. The Great Ruaha River, a river in south-central Tanzania, has seen the most dramatic effects. After a 75,000-acre irrigated rice project was built in 1993, the Ruaha River stopped flowing during the dry season for the first time, and has stopped flowing every dry season since (NPR, 2006).

This is a serious concern for electricity generation. On average, hydroelectric dams generate eighty percent of Tanzania’s electricity, but in recent years production has dropped to sixty percent. In 2006, production dipped to the lowest level ever: forty percent (Index Mundi, 2011). During this period, the country experienced “crippling” power outages, and conflicts between farmers and hydroelectricity producers began (NPR, 2006).

Aside from the problems already being experienced, the process of irrigation itself creates many environmental concerns including the spread of diseases such as malaria, and schistosomiasis, two infectious diseases which are already a serious health concern in Tanzania (CIA, 2011). It leads to increased erosion, of which the cumulative effects can be ruinous (Troeh et al., 2004). Increased soil salinity is another common problem in irrigated soils. High salinity makes it difficult for plants to absorb soil moisture, causing detrimental effects in yields (NRCS, 1998).

Despite these problems, the government wants to expand the amount of irrigated land as part of Tanzania’s official poverty reduction strategy. They hope that more water will allow the farmers to grow more crops and earn more money (NPR, 2006).

Growing Tourism and Preserving the Natural Environment

Tourism has developed rapidly over the past few decades, and now accounts for twelve percent of GDP. Tanzania is Africa’s fifth most popular tourist destination, generating annual revenues of $739 million (Tanzania National Website, 2011c). Safaris are a popular tourist activity, and depend exclusively on exotic animal species like elephants, lions, giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest. In order to maintain growth in the tourism sector, the natural environment must be preserved to ensure the long-term survival of these species. Unfortunately, wildlife habitats and biodiversity are being threatened by fragmentation, deforestation, and overexploitation.

Deforestation and Access to Electricity

Only five percent of the population has access to electricity, and wood fuel accounts for more than ninety percent of the total energy consumption in Tanzania. It is estimated that about 70% of the deforestation in Tanzania is due to fuel wood harvests, directly or indirectly, with about 30% of the deforestation being the result of agricultural land clearing (UNEP Risoe Centre on Energy, Climate and Sustainable Development, 1997). Current levels of fuel wood consumption are estimated to be nearly double the sustainable level, and that number is projected to increase (Tanzania – Environmental Policy Brief, 2011).

There are a number of options that have been identified to help reduce the impact of deforestation. One option is the introduction of combined­-cycle power plants in which the exhaust of one heat engine is used as the heat source for another, thus extracting more useful energy from the heat, increasing the system’s overall efficiency (Wikipedia, 2011).

Importing electricity from neighboring countries (Zambia and Uganda) is also helping expand access. Tanzania is a member of the Southern African Power Pool and the East Africa Community Energy Committee, programs that are designed to “establish a framework for power exchanges between utilities of the member states.” These programs “help minimize costs while maintaining reliability, and the equitable sharing of the resulting benefits” (MBendi Information Services, 2011.) As these programs continue to grow and expand, rural access to reliable energy will reduce the need for fuel wood, thereby reducing the impact of deforestation.

Wildlife and Rural Development

The first game reserves were established in Tanzania in 1905, which today forms the Selous Game Reserve. These reserves were established primarily because of their concentration of big game rather than their biodiversity.  In 1984, the Tanzanian government allowed commercial hunting, there were nine companies operating in the country. Twelve years later, that number increased to thirty-three. The hunting business has continued to thrive, and the number of hunting companies has continued to increase (Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team, 2011).

This has led to the rapid depletion of animal populations, and little has been done to address this problem. Professional hunters have actually encouraged the government to increase the number of hunting companies operating within the country. Also, hunters regularly exceed quotas, and shoot more animals than their licenses permit (Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team, 2011a).

Wildlife is important for the food security, nutrition and income of rural communities. It is clear, however, that the sector suffers from mismanagement, and overuse of resources. If policies were developed and enforced, a well-managed hunting industry is one of the few non-farm industries with potential for economic development in the rural areas of Tanzania (Tanzania – Environmental Policy Brief, 2011).

Tanzania’s wildlife resources are considered amongst the finest in the world. These resources include the Serengeti plains, Ngorongoro Crater, and Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro. Other natural attractions include the sandy beaches north and south of Dar-es-Salaam, the exotic “Spice Island” of Zanzibar, and deep sea fishing at Mafia and Pemba Islands (The United Republic of Tanzania Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, 2002). Ecology-based tourism has great potential for considerable income and employment opportunities for people living in rural communities, and provides an alternative to hunting.

Environmental Health Concerns in Tanzania

Soil degradation, deforestation, desertification, and loss of biodiversity all threaten economic growth, but other environmental problems in Tanzania threaten human health. Access to clean water, proper sanitation, and an environment free from air and water pollution is critical for the health of the nation. Without these things, Tanzania risks compromising its economic development.

Water and Human Health

Although Tanzania is blessed with a variety of surface water resources, surface water is limited throughout the country for most of the year. Water shortage and bad water quality are common problems. The poor are most affected.

In rural households, women and children have to travel long distances to sources of drinking water that is polluted by silt, sediment and other contaminants from soil loss and surface runoff during the rainy season. The majority of these households have latrines but due to limited water supplies lack proper hygienic use and maintenance.

In urban areas, increasing costs of domestic water is a growing concern for the very poor, especially in unplanned urban settlements. Poor sanitation is a major concern in urban areas where water is contaminated from effluent disposal and leakage. Only seventeen percent of urban households have sewers, and pollution control and solid waste management systems are not adequately developed to protect public health or the environment.

Without proper sanitation, people are at risk of acquiring water-related diseases such as cholera, bilharzias, malaria, scabies and trachoma (Tanzania National Website, 2011c). Expanding access to clean water and sanitation services in rural and urban areas is necessary to protect human health.

Environmental Pollution

Although the levels of industrialization in Tanzania remain low, untreated wastes cause significant levels of localized pollution. About eighty percent of the industry in Tanzania is located in Dar es Salaam. It has been estimated that almost seventy percent of the industries located there pollute directly or indirectly into the Indian Ocean. The mining industry uses hazardous chemicals such as cyanide, and mercury, causing severe environmental and health problems.

In 1996, the Government of Tanzania launched the Sustainable Industrial Development Policy to enhance sustainable development of the industrial sector. The main objectives of the policy are: human development, creation of employment opportunities, sustainable economic growth, environmental sustainability, and equitable development. A number of sustainable development initiatives have been initiated, including the reduction of pollutants by adding effluent treatment and scrubbing units to existing processes in the chemical industry (United Nations, 2011).

Conclusion

Tanzania faces a number of environmental concerns that threaten to undermine the economy of the nation. Growing the economy requires working within the same natural restrictions and limitations of the environment that threaten to destroy it. It is for this reason that sustainable development is the only way forward for Tanzania.

Poverty in Tanzania is inextricably linked to the environment. It is seen as both a major cause of poverty, and the solution to poverty. Further degradation of the natural environment will only exacerbate the issue of poverty. It is vital to find ways to sustainably exploit the natural resources. Striking a balance has proven to be difficult, as seen with agricultural irrigation and hydroelectric production.

Environmental tourism has great potential for considerable income and employment opportunities for people living in rural communities. Yet, because the basic needs of the people living in rural regions are not being met through other sources, they are forced to exploit the resources available to them. This is creating serious environmental concerns, and threatens to undermine the potential economic growth in the tourism sector.

Environmental problems in Tanzania threaten human health. Without access to clean water, proper sanitation, and an environment free from air and water pollution, Tanzania risks compromising its economic development. Investments in infrastructures that can deliver clean water, and waste must be significant.

Economic growth, poverty reduction, and sustainable use of the environment are all possible in Tanzania. In fact, none of these can be accomplished without the other. It is a unique balance, one that many people in industrialized nations like the United States fail to appreciate. In the United States, environmental regulation is seen as a hindrance to economic growth. In Tanzania, nothing could be further from the truth.

Sources

If you see a penny laying on the sidewalk, do you pick it up?

And, if thirty seconds later you found a nickel, wouldn’t you also pick that up and stick it in your pocket for safe keeping? I know I would. What if, rather than coins on the sidewalk, the money was virtual? No coins, just digits on a computer screen? Would you still be willing to pick up those “coins?”

About a week ago I discovered a website that pays its users to watch advertisements. Since starting, I’ve earned $8.38. During that same time, I’ve found ten cents on the sidewalk.  A dime here, a nickel there might not seem like a lot of money, but over time it really begins to add up. Through this website, you can earn up to $520 a year by spending five to ten minutes a day watching advertisements.

What could you do with $520?

The commercials are from large companies and each one is between thirty seconds and a minute long. Sometimes you’ll earn six cents for watching a commercial. Other times you’ll get more. Sometimes you have to answer a couple of questions about the commercial, but most times you don’t.

Obviously you aren’t going to get rich by doing this, but after a year you could earn enough for a plane ticket, a new snowboard, or you could use the money to help pay rent or tuition. It’s worth my time, maybe it’s also worth your time!

Click here to visit the JingIt website to learn more!!!

You may have noticed that we’re balls deep in the holiday season, that wonderful time of year when mindless consumerism becomes even more socially acceptable than normal. Traditionally, I’ve opted out of the holiday season, asking that people don’t buy me any gifts. I’m fortunate to have everything I could ever need, and most of what I want.

I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than in attempting to satisfy them. ~ John Stuart Mill

But it’s not because I have everything I need that I opt out of the Christmas gift exchange. It’s because I feel like the meaning of the season has been lost. And every year it just seems to get worse. Since I’m not a religious person, it might be ironic or even hypocritical that I complain about the meaning of Christmas being lost. I don’t celebrate Christmas because it’s Jesus’ birthday, the true meaning of the holiday. Like many people, I celebrate because Christmas has become a part of the American culture, whether you’re Christian or not. I can only imagine how Christians feel about the current status of their holiday as an excuse for hordes of shoppers to pepper spray each other over an Xbox 360.

Christmas is about people, though you’d never know from all of the commercials where it’s all about the HDTVs, iPads, Victoria’s Secret lingerie, diamond necklaces…the implication being that to show your love, you must do so with material possessions. Have we really lost all capacity to express our love and affection for one another without the exchange of gifts?

Can you even remember what you got for Christmas last year?

This isn’t to say you shouldn’t exchange gifts. Rather, it’s a plea that we lessen the importance of the gifts by refocusing our energy on the people. Besides, it’s a little too late to thrust it upon your family that there won’t be any presents under the tree this year. It’s hard to change tradition. I know, I’ve tried.

Here are a few ways to lessen the importance of the gifts by refocusing our energy on people:

• Open gifts Christmas night instead of in the morning. Instead of opening presents in the morning, and then having everyone absorbed with their new toys for the rest of the day, open them after you’ve eaten dinner.
• Spend the day together doing something as a family. If you’re fortunate enough to have a white Christmas, you could have a snowball fight, go ice skating, or you could spend the day sledding, skiing or snowboarding.
• Volunteer. What better way to focus your energy on people than to volunteer to help those less fortunate?
• Go caroling. Your neighbors will love it!
• Watch Christmas movies. Snuggle up on the couch with your family with cups of hot chocolate and candy canes. Some of my favorite movies are National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and It’s a Wonderful Life.

Changing tradition can be difficult, but it’s worth it. There’s nothing more important than family, not even that new iPad under the tree.

What Christmas traditions do you and your family celebrate?

Sitting alone in a parking lot on the outskirts of town, I waited for a man I’d never met. He had a job for me. As I checked the time yet again, a car turned the corner, its headlights casting a pale yellow glow as they approached. When we’d spoke on the phone earlier that day, he told me to be there at 1 a.m.

He was late.

I stepped out of my car and stood there watching him cleaning the piles of garbage from the passenger seat. He unlocked the door, and waved me inside. The air was thick with the smell of coffee and stale cigarettes. I reached out to shake his hand, but he seemed disinterested. “Are you ready?” he asked. Only a few minutes earlier I’d been asking myself what the fuck I was doing waiting for a stranger in the middle of the night, almost in the middle of nowhere. “Am I ready? I don’t even want to be here right now,” I thought to myself.

“Let’s go,” I said. There was no turning back. We drove off into the night, disappearing down a back road. “Here’s where we’re going,” he said, handing me a list of addresses, “and the newspapers are in the backseat.”

I spent the next two and a half hours riding around the countryside on the wrong side of the road, delivering newspapers. Not exactly my idea of a dream job, but when I’d answered the ad I thought it might be an easy way to make some extra money. About half an hour into the drive, I knew it wasn’t for me. After we finished the route, I asked how long he’d been delivering papers.

“Twenty years!”

Twenty years? I couldn’t handle two hours. “So, what do you think?” he asked me. “I don’t know,” I said. “I guess it’s alright.” I felt compelled to lie to him. I didn’t want it to seem like I was insulting him by saying that I thought it was a horribly boring, mindless way of earning a paycheck.

“Will I see you tomorrow night? You can ride along again.”

“I’ll have to think about it. I’m not really sure,” I admitted, feeling guilty for wasting his time. I knew that after he dropped me off at my car we’d never see each other again. The rest of the ride was quiet. I knew that he knew I wasn’t coming back, but when he dropped me off at my car, he told me to call him and let him know about tomorrow night. I said I would, but I knew I wouldn’t. Maybe if I don’t call he’ll get the message.

I’m not very good with disappointing people.