Become a community contributor

Expand your horizons.

This is the time of year many are looking at making changes. Whether it’s New Year’s Resolutions or simply turning over a new leaf, it’s a time to think about bettering ourselves.

Those most frequently talked about lifestyle changes involve health — exercising more, improving diet, losing weight, etc. Some last, some fall apart before January is over.

Other popular New Year’s resolutions include stopping a bad habit (smoking, drinking), spending more time with family, traveling more often and reading more frequently.

We’d like to make our own suggestion for new year’s resolutions for our readers in east central Indiana and west central Ohio:

Contribute to your community.

Finding a way to get involved isn’t difficult. There are so many opportunities. Here are just a few suggestions:

•Coach. Local leagues are always looking for coaches across a wide range of sports.

•Join a service club. It’s no secret that membership in service clubs across the nation is waning (and aging). From Rotary to Lions to Optimists to Eagles to Elks, there are many, many opportunities.

•Contribute your time to a charity. There are so many out there, from Jay County Cancer Society to United Way of Jay County to Secret Families Christmas Charity of Jay County, and so many more.

•Become involved with a not-for-profit or school-based group. Band, theatre, athletic boosters. Take your pick.

There are all kinds of other opportunities, from helping out at a church, walking dogs for Jay County Humane Society or volunteering at a local museum.

Maybe you’ll try something and it won’t work out. That can happen.

But you might find something that becomes your new passion, that builds new friendships, that simply becomes a part of who you are.

Either way, if you can look back at the end of 2024 and say you did something to make your community a better place, your year will have been a success. — R.C.