The New Year is always a time to take stock and plan

PRIME – January, 2014 By Debbie Gardner debbieg@thereminder.com January is traditionally a time for new beginnings, with the clean pages of the calendar spurring many of us to plan to make changes in the New Year. In fact, New Year's Resolution fever should be in full swing right about now. If you are thinking about making some health-oriented changes for 2014, but haven't firmed up your plans yet, take a look at Health writer Dr. Victor Acquista's column on page 14 of this month's issue. He outlines a practical approach to taking stock of your overall wellness – not just the physical, but also the emotional and spiritual aspects of your personal health – as well as ideas for crafting an "action plan" to move you from point A to point B as you work to improve your personal wellness. For those thinking about financial resolutions, Legal writer Gina Barry has this suggestion – take the time to review your estate plan. In her column on page 6, Barry presents some very valid reasons why this should be an annual task for us all – from recent changes to the Massachusetts state and federal estate tax limits to considerations of how your bequeaths are structured, and whom you have chosen as your personal representative (formerly called your executor). If weight loss is your New Year's goal, Alternative Medicine writer Jonathan Evans has a warning in his column about the get-thin-fast pills and other weight-loss scams on TV and the Internet. He's also offering to supply readers with a summary that more fully explains the 12 products for weight loss recently discussed on Dr. Oz's TV program. The address to send your request for the summary is in his column on page 14. For readers still in the workplace – or thinking of re-entering the job market – your New Year's resolutions might include sharpening up your work and job search skills. With more and more of us eschewing the traditional retirement age and staying in the workforce longer, career-oriented resolutions are something that should be on a lot of lists for the new year. With that in mind, PRIME is launching a new careers column with this issue. Every other month we'll be offering tips on how to survive – and hopefully thrive – in today's changing job market. This month's advice on how important a professional-quality photo is to your online presence is something those of us who have been in the workforce for awhile might not even consider. As Broadway actor turned teacher and casting partner at McCorkle Casting in New York City, Jeffrey Dreisman, ("A Few Good Men") pointed out in the new PrimeCareers column on page 16, "Like an actor, you are your own product and brand" and your image – on everything from the networking website Linkedin to the shot on your personal Facebook page – should have your looking your best. I actually spent a lot of time thinking about careers – and the paths they have often taken by the time we reach midlife – while preparing for this first issue of 2014. My chat with local TV anchor-turned-educator, Brenda Garton-Sjoberg, was a revealing look at how one's original passion can often lead, unexpectedly, to a second, fulfilling career. As former 22News producer and now Western New England University Assistant Vice President for Marketing Communications David Stawasz said, "While [Brenda] was an accomplished anchor and reporter, I think she's an even better teacher. In a relatively short amount of time, her students have compiled impressive career accomplishments locally and nationally, which is a testament to her skills as a mentor." I'm also grateful to columnist Jane O'Donoghue for sharing how her own career changed direction as her life unfolded and her family grew. Like myself, perhaps many of you will see more of a parallel in Jane's story than in Brenda's, but both offer a similar piece of advice – in life, you can't be afraid to take on new challenges. That's a message we can all take to heart, no matter the season. Whatever your resolutions, make it a good start in 2014.