New Leaf

“My resolution for life is to try my best to not be a robot.” —Abdu Ali, musician

“Go on a truffle hunt in France, vote for a forward thinking President, teach city kids about gardening (right after I learn how to), drink some old, great Burgundy and be more environmentally responsible.” —Cindy Wolf, co-owner of Foreman Wolf/executive chef at Charleston

“More films and filmmaking in Baltimore.” —Jed Dietz, founding director, Maryland Film Festival

“2016 will be all about ‘lines and licks, prose and punk’ I resolve to turn up my writing another notch and, after thirty years, pick up the guitar again. Watch out Dylan, or at least Paul Westerberg. ‘These go to 11.’”—Gregg Wilhelm, founder and executive director CityLit Project

“I have learned that resolutions can be the perfect ego juice for lazy overachievers such as myself. In 2015, my resolution was to ‘spend less time interacting with people and more time with my iPhone’ which, much to the dismay of all of my loved ones, I totally slam-dunked this year! So much so, that for 2016, I’m stepping up my game and challenging myself to successfully finish a ChapStick. Here’s hoping!” —Deana Haggag, director, The Contemporary

“In my job, I get to throw some of the city’s biggest festivals, and it lets me celebrate everything I love about Baltimore. I’m going to take it to the next level in 2016 by upping my Instagram game: more posts, better posts about living, working, and promoting Baltimore. #goals” —Kathleen Hornig, festivals director, Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts

“I am over New Year’s resolutions. Done. Made too many resolutions that were history by February. I’ve read the articles about how doing a new routine for seven day locks it in as a habit. Nope. Doesn’t work. Maybe I’m a slow learner. Or maybe that habit-forming formula only works for something you’d secretly want to do anyway, even if it wasn’t a good-for-you resolution. Napping, for example. I could probably lock in a napping habit inside a week. A daily dose of treadmill, not so much. But hope springs eternal, so I’ve got a compromise resolution for 2016: Breath. Just breathe. Deep. Let that diaphragm drop, those lungs expand. Don’t wait for choir practice to be reminded. Don’t wait for yoga class to find the groove. Just in. Sloooww. And out. Slooww. Until it’s a habit.” —Sheilah Kast, host of Midday on WYPR

“As a member of the Baltimore City Council, I am lobbied almost daily by email from various constituents, sometimes by scores of emails on a given legislative or policy issue. And we pay attention. The currently muted voices in this culture, however, are those failing to participate in the personal electronic communications in which so much ‘business’ is generated and conducted in this day and age. Not surprisingly, in a recent house meeting with constituents in a proud but cyber-deprived neighborhood, a group of active leaders complained of feeling ‘left out’ and ‘forgotten’ by city government in general. These residents go to community meetings and stay in phone touch with elected officials and community leaders. They are diligent. What’s missing is the ‘buzz’ of back-and-forth electronic communications with each other and the world outside. My resolution to these leaders and to myself: To help promote a critical mass of neighbors in my cyber-deprived neighborhoods to get online (with phones if not laptops) and join the conversations that daily lead to attention and even resolution from city agencies, private service providers, and elected officials. Until then, active residents are foregoing that communication with each other which leads to the concerted impact of their ‘electronic’ voices on the outside world.” —Mary Pat Clarke, city councilwoman, 14th District

“I have resolved to look for the best in each person I meet and for the positive in every situation—and to see challenges as opportunities for growth. I am determined to find the inner strength I’ll need for the work ahead.” —Freeman Hrabowski, president, University of Maryland, Baltimore County