Comments on: 2012 Resolution #3 – Perform 200 Hours of Community Service

By: Skirnir Hamilton

Skirnir Hamilton — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:39:14 +0000

Great goal, but I do think 4 hours a week is a bit too high. Maybe you should aim at about 4 hours a month, to make it regular and if you do more great. I think with the weight loss and this, you are setting yourself up for failure. A little too ambitious.

By: Louise

Louise — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:23:47 +0000

Right on, Joan! Let’s ALL resolve to be more positive and a bit less knit-picky.

By: Joan

Joan — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:26:44 +0000

Is it just me, or is there more negative comments. Is it the same as the bad apple in a bushel of apples. I think it is great that Trent is sharing his resolutions with us. Trent: Keep up the good work.

By: AnnJo

AnnJo — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:58:19 +0000

Johanna, I think you were wiser earlier when you simply acknowledged you don’t understand what I’m talking about. You still don’t.

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 04:16:19 +0000

Thank You for your up coming service, last year a man we didn’t know, shoveled my mom’s walk and drive last year before I could get into town to do it. When she yelled to him she wanted to give him something he just walked away and waved.

By: valleycat1

valleycat1 — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:16:56 +0000

There are a lot of places, food banks and other charities, that would love to have someone who commits 4 hours a week to their program, usually scheduled in a 2-4 hour block. If I had that extra time available, that’s what I’d do instead of some random what do I not feeling like doing today kind of deal.

and I agree with the previous poster that if you’re at least 50 lbs overweight and have recently had back or other joint problems, shoveling snow this winter for others may not be the best choice unless you have a snowblower, not a shovel.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:49:58 +0000

By setting such a rigid goal, aren’t you neglecting in some fashion the purpose of charitable endeavors: to help other people? Especially by tracking the time spent on a spreadsheet, you are making it more of a mental game –relevant only to yourself. Are you a better person if you “get ahead” of yourself on some arbitrary charitable calendar? If paying attention to your family causes you to miss time at the food bank are you automatically a bad person? That’s what you seem to suggest.

By: sarah

sarah — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:33:55 +0000

I must be missing something. Correct me if I’m wrong:

Trent’s biggest priority based on past posts: His kids (and wife)

So how does focusing on his biggest priority (hot chocolate and movie with the kiddos) now become a “wrong” choice? And, isn’t making frugal meals at home also a priority? That’s now listed as a “wrong” choice?

I think Trent’s 2012 Resolutions so far are good goals, but I don’t see how they line up with his stated priorities, or (as others have mentioned) how in the world he’ll have enough hours in the day to accomplish it all.

Trent – if you are reading this, I would love to see a post on how your priorities influenced your resolution setting for the year, and how you’ve scheduled your time to be able to accomplish it all. I am actually and honestly curious.

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:30:36 +0000

Hey- shoveling snow can do double duty leaving even more novel writing time!

I also was surprised by the movie and hot chocolate being be “wrong” choice.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:03:57 +0000

So, in the world according to AnnJo, government services should be replaced by charity, and now charity should be replaced by paid service.

Suddenly it all becomes clear.

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:47:37 +0000

I should have added this to my #11 post: …or has a flexible work schedule.

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:33:24 +0000

When children get into public school, it gets easier and easier to chalk up many volunteer hours, particularly if a parent doesn’t work during the day.

By: Roberta

Roberta — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:05:28 +0000

Or take the older children with you to the work locations (when appropriate, of course) so that they can help as well. Spending time with you while working together on a community project has many benefits. Even young children can help shovel snow, clean up the public park, or fill bags in a food pantry. You get the time with them and demonstrate some of your value system at the same time.

By: K

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:45:42 +0000

I think a better goal would be to do one thing to give back to the community each week, rather than a certain number of hours. I also cringed when you said that making hot chocolate and watching a movie with your kids was not the “right” choice. Giving back is great, but it is possible to serve others so much that you neglect time with your family.

By: AnnJo

AnnJo — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:56:31 +0000

Trent’s day job is writing a blog on personal finance that has probably helped dozens if not hundreds of people to improve their lives, at zero cost to themselves. If that’s not community service, I don’t know what is. Most people’s day jobs exist because the community needs them.

The notion that only performing uncompensated service is of meaningful help to the community has always seemed to me some kind of a con job. The motive behind a service (a paycheck vs. “ommunity service”) may or may not help you get into Heaven, but it is completely irrelevant to the recipient of the service.

By: lurker carl

lurker carl — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:51:53 +0000

Speaking of community service, spend some time helping on-line community. Add a few minutes of time on moderating comments. Considering what got through the filter several weeks ago versus my benign drivel that goes into moderation pergatory, human intervention is needed.

By: lurker carl

lurker carl — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:43:22 +0000

Going from couch potato to manual laborer in one step often ends painfully, your recent track record isn’t good. Don’t start shoveling snow until you are well into your new fitness program. Pack the snowblower instead.

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:21:26 +0000

#4 coming tomorrow: Use the word “simply” only once per post.

Just kidding Trent. I like these resolutions actually. Even if you only half succeed at all of them, that’s still really awesome. Write one book. Lose 25 pounds. 100 hours of service… good stuff.

By: Steven

Steven — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:52:36 +0000

But if his next goal ISN’T to read 150 books this year, he’ll probably have more than enough time to do it all. I’m still waiting to see what else is coming down the pipe.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:50:23 +0000

Hopefully, your remaining resolutions won’t be too time intensive. So far, we have losing weight through more exercise, writing not one but two novels and spending 4 hours a week on Community Service.

I guess it depends on how quickly you can write and how many pages your novels are going to be but it sounds to me like your committing to at least 12-15 hours a week doing things that you are not doing now. I know I couldn’t find that sort of time without burning out (or working part-time, I guess).