Let us use creative ways to brush off January blues

January can be a pretty dreary month – the holiday festivities are over and there are bills to pay after the New Year frivolities. For most Kenyan adults, paying school fees is often the biggest headache.

This coupled with the obligatory renewal of insurance covers, club memberships, and purchase of college books, for some, can weigh heavily on monthly expenses.

The days that follow will be more daunting for Kenyans. The anxiety and uncertainties associated with the March 4 General Election and the rising consumer goods prices will continue to be a drain.

But while some adverse events will be outside the control of most people, there are plenty of constructive activities that can make the month more meaningful. One of them is planning. January is usually the best time to reflect on the previous year and make adjustments that will guarantee personal growth.

There are numerous areas that should be watched. One of them is personal health. An improved diet, exercise and periodic medical check-ups could save patients from a lot of grief and doctors’ expenses.

The other is personal finances – controlled spending and prudent saving will improve future prospects. Also, the physical and personal environment where we live or work, should be safe and pleasing. And whether it is about our spirituality, careers, family or other relationships, something can always be done to improve our wellbeing.

There several resolutions that can be made to transform this into a productive year. We can resolve to vote for the most deserving political candidates in the General Election, or obey the Highway Code and make our roads safer.

Alternatively, we can choose to live a corrupt-free 2013 and refused to bribe public officers, or perhaps preach peace in a volatile political year; the upshot is that we can elect to make our nation a better place to live in for the benefit of 40 million Kenyans. We will always have a choice about how we want to shape our future and destiny.

Let’s make the right choice now.