I hate New Year’s resolutions. I love the idea of them, but I often get discouraged when I don’t keep them all… “Go to the gym each day” is a great goal, but let’s be honest, as much as I try, I’m not going to keep it every single day of 2015.

So instead, I like to write some simple goals. Simple habits that can change your life when developed over time…

Here’s a list of New Year’s resolutions from different people on our team.

1. Learn a new skill

A new language, a new instrument, a new genre of music… learn how to cook, or paint, or play soccer, or write computer programming… Learn something new!

2. Write once a week

Whether it’s songwriting, blogging, poetry, short stories, journalling… get in the habit of writing.  It takes time, and it takes work, but it develops your creativity.

3. Stop and celebrate the wins

Life goes fast and it is so easy to just keep moving on to the next thing. But take the time to stop and celebrate the wins… in your life, with your team. Celebrate the wins and celebrate the people that made it possible! 

4. Create more and push the boundaries

Imagine if Steve Jobs stopped after he created the iPod … what if Da Vinci stopped after he painted The Last Supper … we wouldn’t have the Mona Lisa, we wouldn’t have the iPhone, the iPad, the iWatch and whatever else Apple intends to create …

Let’s not stop creating, let’s keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible!  

5. Listen more, talk less

Listen to new music.  In conversation, be the first to listen than to talk.

6. Make new friends

We’ve all heard the saying “show me your friends, and I’ll show you who you are”… if we want to have better lives this year, what better way than to make new friends! Maybe with people that challenge us, maybe with people that are very different from us… new friends will bring new experiences!

7. Read a book

An e-book. An audio book. A good old-fashioned paper book… It may change your life.

8. Plant a vegetable garden

Gardening requires patience, consistency — principles that are worth developing in our own lives!

9. Laugh every day

Laughter is the best medicine. With your family, at work, everywhere.

10. Volunteer

Be a volunteer – give your time to others. You might get back more than you give.

11. Put your phone down

It’s so easy to live your life with your head down, looking at your phone and letting it rule your life… Responding to messages, writing emails, checking your notifications on social media…

Look up. Put your phone in your pocket when you’re walking. Hide your phone in your bag when you’re having a coffee with someone. Leave your phone at the door when you get home. Try it.

12. Drink water and eat fruit

Take a refillable water bottle with you. Buy a small bowl for your desk at work or at home and keep it full of fresh fruit.

13. Look someone in the eye, ask them about their life, and listen

Not just “Hey, how are you?” as you quickly walk past each other… Ask questions that matter (look them in the eye when you do), and listen and care about what they have to share.

What’s new in your life?

Are you enjoying your job?

Tell me about your week…

How can I help you?

14. Encourage others

A phone call, a text message, an encouraging word in person can work miracles. Take the time to say what you appreciate about your friends!

15. Enjoy life

Every moment can be precious. Enjoy whatever you can.

Well, there you have it.  Pick one or two or seven commit to them and don’t stop when 2015 is over 🙂

Forrás: Hillsong, Australia

Vocabulary:

Fill in the gaps with words from the text.

He doesn’t get paid for this work. He’s ______________.

I won’t sell this picture. It’s very ______________to me.

Start exercising ever day. It can ______________in your life.

The waitress put ______________of soup on the table.

Last year she got ______________of walking her dog every morning.

Don’t get ______________. I know it’s difficult but I will help you.

They are really ______________people, they don’t use mobile phones.

Stop lying to me! Be ______________.

She didn’t send the present to me because she wanted to give it to me in ______________.

I really ______________your kindness. It ______________ a lot to me.

Key:

He doesn’t get paid for this work. He’s a volunteer.

I won’t sell this picture. It’s very precious to me.

Start exercising ever day. It can work miracles in your life.

The waitress put a bowl of soup on the table.

Last year she got in the habit of walking her dog every morning.

Don’t get discouraged. I know it’s difficult but I will help you.

They are really old-fashioned people, they don’t use mobile phones.

Stop lying to me! Be honest.

She didn’t send the present to me because she wanted to give it to me in person.

I really appreciate your kindness. It matters a lot to me.

Paw Me Another         

This thirsty golden Labrador enjoys a little hair of the dog – by downing a new beer designed for pets. The meat-flavoured “beer” for dogs, called Barkers Brew, is now available in two flavours, chicken and beef. It is non-alcoholic and non-carbonated and contains vitamin E, which even supports the dog’s immune system. It costs £2.50 a bottle and the liquid can be added to water as well as poured over dried food to give a dog’s dinner a new flavour.

And 13-year-old golden Labrador Skip certainly appears to be a big fan of the new brew. His owner Laura Hawken said: "It’s a great way to add a bit of variety to Skip’s meals. He really enjoys the chicken flavour and always wants to finish the bottle after his dinner. After he polishes off the bottle he has a long nap – it’s as if he’s had a few real beers!"

Russ Ronat, director of R2 Pets Ltd, the company behind Barkers Brew, wanted to create a new product and treat for pets.

The 39-year-old said: "I started R2 Pets Ltd a few years ago and my goal for the company has been to create very innovative pet products. I love dogs and was thinking of new products that were also reward treats for dogs. Most dog owners want to provide a little variety to their pet’s meals and the idea of a healthy brew that can be added to any meal made sense. Our nutritionist in Yorkshire has a few dogs and they are all big fans of the brew – the response from friends and customers has been fantastic. The beer adds a healthy variety to your dog’s meal, the brew has a screw top so is easy to add the brew and and then refrigerate."

Russ, from Orlando, Florida, US, who has had a poodle, a boxer, and a Newfoundland, feels the beer will add excitement to dog’s lives.

He added: "Barkers Brew adds some excitement to your dog’s day; it’s a new tasty addition to its food. It makes mealtimes much more appealing and entices even the fussiest of eaters."

thirsty – szomjas
to down – ledönteni (italt)
to be designed for – valamilyen célra tervezett
meat-flavoured – húsos ízesítésű
available – elérhető, megszerezhető
flavour – íz, ízesítés
carbonated – szénsavas
to contain – tartalmazni
to support – támogatni, elősegíteni
immune system – immunrendszer
liquid – folyadék
to add to – hozzáadni
to pour – önteni, tölteni
dried food – szárazeledel
to appear to – tűnni valaminek
brew – (sör)főzet
variety – választék
to polish off – eltüntetni (ételt, italt)
nap – szundikálás
treat – jutalomfalat (itt)
goal – cél
innovative – újító
reward – jutalom
to provide – lehetővé tenni, biztosítani
to make sense – értelme van valaminek
nutritionist – táplálkozási szakember
response – válasz
screw top – csavaros kupak
to refrigerate – lehűteni
poodle – uszkár
excitement – izgalom
tasty – ízletes, finom
addition – kiegészítés
appealing – vonzó, megnyerő
to entice – csábítani, csalogatni
fussy eater – válogatós evő 

Listen to the text and answer the questions.

1. What is the new product described?

2. What was the dogs’ reaction to the new product?

3. Why do owners buy this product?

4. How is the product packaged?

5. How can this procuct be consumed?

answers:

1. It is a non-alcoholic meat-flavoured drink/brew/beer for pets.

2. The dogs who tried it all liked it.

3. It’s healthy and they want to provide variety to their pets’ meals/add excitement to the dogs’ lives.

4. It comes in a handy screw-cap bottle.

5. It can be added to water or poured over dry dog food.

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REMEMBERING THE DECEASED

It is a time of the year where the fields have been harvested and sacrifices of animals and even humans were made to the gods to thank for good crops. Often we link death to events such as Halloween, or All Saints Day. But have you ever wondered why? Let’s look at some of the ways in which death is celebrated or remembered.

Halloween

Halloween is recognised as falling on October the 31st, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows. In fact Halloween comes from the phrase All Hallows Even. It brings together the traditional celebrations of the pagan harvest festival and festivals to honour the dead. It is linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain, meaning summers end.

 We recognise this time of year by getting the children to go ‘Trick or Treating’ their neighbours in the village and town. People often dress up as creatures of the night, ghosts or zombies. Pumpkins are hollowed out and a candle is placed inside. Faces are then carved into the pumpkins and the lanterns are paraded in the streets, or placed outside the house or in windows. Some will light bonfires or play tricks on each other and maybe tell a ghost story or two.

to be harvested – betakarítva, learatva lenni
sacrifice – áldozat
crop – termés
to link – összekötni, összekapcsolni
to wonder – elmélkedni, gondolkodni
to celebrate – ünnepelni
to remember – emlékezni
to be recognised as – valamiként (el)ismert
to fall on  – valamikorra esik (nap)
eve – ünnep előestéje
feast – ünnep(nap)
in fact – valójában
phrase – mondás, szólás, mondat
to bring together – összehozni
pagan – pogány
harvest – aratás, betakaítás
to honour – tisztelni, becsülni
to dress up as – beöltözni valaminek
creature – teremtmény
pumpkin – sütőtök
to be hollowed out – üreget vájni
to carve – faragni
lantern – lámpás
to be paraded – körbehordozva, mutogatva lenni
to light a bonfire – örömtüzet, máglyát gyújtani
to play tricks on somebody – valakit megtréfálni, átverni

All Souls Day

This day remembers those who have departed this world. All Souls Day is just a few days after Halloween and falls on November 2nd.  All Souls Day is mainly observed by the Catholic Church, but other religions also recognise its tradition. Its official name is The Commemoration of All the Faithfull Departed but also known as the Feast of All Souls and even in some languages as Day of the Dead.

All Saints Day

Like All Souls Day, it is a time to remember those who have died.  All Saints Day is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost or in some religions on the 1st of November. This day commemorated those who have attained sainthood, and can be traced back to the year 609 at the time that Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon in Rome to the Blessed Virgin and the Martyrs. This day is also observed by the church as a holiday.

to depart – elhalálozik, elhuny
to observe – ünnepet, szokást megtartani
religion – vallás
commemoration – megemlékezés
Pope – pápa
to be consecrated – felszentelve lenni
blessed – áldott, szent
virgin – szűz
martyr – mártír
holiday – itt ünnep 

Day of the Dead

It may seem like a title to a horror film, but in fact Day of the Dead is a day that actually remembers and celebrates the life and death of people. In Mexico, this day falls on the same day as All Saints Day and the Mexicans remember deceased children and infants. It is also a national holiday. The dead will be honoured by presenting sugar skulls and marigold flowers along with some of the favourite foods and drinks of those who have died. These will be left at the graves as gifts.

It is believed that this celebration dates back to Aztec festivals, many hundreds of years ago, and is dedicated to an Aztec goddess called Mictecacihuatl. Day of the Dead is also celebrated in Brazil and Spain where people gather in cemeteries and pray for those who have passed away.

title – cím
infant – csecsemő
national holiday – nemzeti ünnep
to be honoured by – kitüntetve, megtisztelve lenni
skull – koponya
marigold flower – körömvirág
along with – valamivel együtt
grave – sírhely
it is believed  – azt hiszik, az a hiedelem
to date back – visszanyúlik időben
to be dedicated to – valaminek szentelve lenni
to gather – összegyűlni
cemetery – temető
to pray – imádkozni
to pass away – elhunyni

Bon Festival

This is an ancient Japanese Buddhist custom, known also as Obon or simply just Bon. This is a time to remember the dead and also to remember their spirit. In Japan it is a time to family reunions and this time is used to remember ancestors with prayer. Graves are attended and cleaned by members of the family. The tradition dates back for more than 500 years ago and amongst the celebrations there is also a traditional dance called Bon Odori.

As this is a festival time it lasts generally for around three days and takes place in summer, usually in July or August, depending on where in Japan you live. The festival ends with lanterns floated in rivers or lakes to remember ancestral spirits and the celebrations usually end with a huge fireworks display.

Ghost Festival

This is a tradition from China, where it is also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival. This time is also recognised as a holiday by the Chinese in many countries. July 15th is regarded as Ghost Day and July Ghost Month. It’s believed in tradition that this day the spirits of ancestors reveal themselves, a day when the deceased visit the living. Food is offered to the spirits, meals are served to empty seats where ancestors and family once sat and lanterns are burnt and released onto water as a way of giving direction to lost spirits and also paying their respect to their memories. The Ghost festival is also celebrated in Singapore and Malaysia.

ancient – nagyon régi, ókori
custom – szokás
to be known as – úgy ismert, mint
spirit – szellem, lélek
family reunion – családi összejövetel
ancestor – ős, előd
prayer – imádság, ima
to be attended – meglátogatva lenni
to last – tart (időben)
to take place – megrendezik
to depend on  – valamitől függ
to float – lebeg, vízen úszik, úsztat
ancestral spirit – ősi szellemek, lelkek
to reveal oneself – megjelenik, megmutatja magát
to be offered  – felajánlva lenni
to be served – felszolgálva lenni
to be burnt – elégetve lenni
to release – kiadni, elengedni
to give direction to – irányt, utat mutat
to pay one’s respect to – lerója a tiszteletét

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