Making resolutions: Locals try to start off 2016 with changes

HARLINGEN — Living lighter.

After living more than 20 years in the same house, Brenda Nettles Riojas and her husband Cesar have accumulated a great deal of “excess,” says the editor of the Valley Catholic.

“I am guilty of consumerism,” Riojas said with a laugh. Her New Year’s resolution to give away some of her excess belongings actually began in December during Advent.

“I started giving away one item a day,” she said. “Now it’s more.”

She’s been giving away books, crochet items, painting supplies and numerous items that have piled up over the years. She’s getting rid of binders with 20-year-old presentations.

“I’ve got a lot of binders of information I don’t need anymore,” she said.

So far she’s given away 50 books, and that hasn’t even made a dent. Every room in her house is filled with books.

Nevertheless, she’s noticed her home slowly becoming a little lighter with less “things.

“I’m trying to lighten the load,” she said. “I have a ton of stuff. We just accumulate.”

Riojas isn’t the only one who plans to lighten her load. Libby Salinas, chief program officer of the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, says her resolution is to “de-clutter my life and the things in it.”

Harlingen Police Chief Jeff Adickes sounded very upbeat about the New Year. Yesterday being the first day of 2016, he hadn’t had a chance to really develop a resolution. However, he had a pretty good idea of what it would be.

“I am thinking of trying to stay fit,” he said. “Continue my running, a little more time with family, wife and kids.”

He and his wife have two grown sons and two grown daughters. He sounded grateful for all of them.

“They are really good people,” he said, adding proudly he and his wife also have a grandson.

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