Tomorrow, reality hits — at least for those brave enough to make New Year’s resolutions. Susie McKinnis Roxanne Hutton Vera and Dick Isaacs Sandy Zornes Vince DeGrado Deb Tynon, Judy Brigham The Rev. Jennifer Loeb Robyn Fawson Susan Michael Kelly Sigg Terri Piazza Tracy Lee Jacki Chase
In random fashion the Register asked readers whether they make resolutions and what they are.
Here are their responses:
I do believe in making New Year’s resolutions. Of course, how effective they are depends on the person. Still, at their most effective they can provide the incentive an individual needs to turn around his or her life. They give people hope, a sense that the future can be better than the present.
I can’t remember specific New Year’s resolutions that I’ve made, but I do know that, on several occasions, I have felt that sense of hope for the future at the beginning of the year — and that things eventually improved, due at least in part to my changed attitude or actions.
I always try to make a New Year’s resolution mostly to be better organized.
I believe it motivates me. I would like to say I do change in even a small way, however, I know like everything else we get busy with the daily life challenges and things get moved to the back of our minds.
Yes, we’re like everyone else, we make resolutions each year. And like most folks, we fail miserably.
Dick is resolving (again!) to lose weight. He has been working out at our fitness center for several weeks.
I am resolving to be more patient. This is a new one for me, and much needed, I’m sure.
Carl Slaugh
I traditionally set new goals each year plus work on some old ones that I did not complete.
Personal Goals for 2015
Read, study and ponder the New Testament and how to become more Christ like — I team teach the adult Sunday School class and we will be going through the New Testament this year.
Practice the accordion five times a week. I took three months of lessons in junior high, but was not disciplined to learn or practice much. I hope to place this higher on my priority list so I can at least learn to play “Mary had a Little Lamb,” or “Frosty the Snowman.”
Plan at least one trip to each of our out-of-state children in Arizona, Utah, Iowa and New York and enjoy time with grandchildren.
Study the Book of Mormon along with the Bible on a regular basis — as opposed to just reading, I hope to keep up a Scripture journal and work on specific things I should personally change or ways to help others through small acts of service.
Organize the garage and get rid of things I have not used in the last year.
Fix the boat motor and actually get the boat in the water and go fishing.
With the beginning of a new year, we experience a strong determination that this will be the year we achieve our goals — whether they be new, or unrealized goals from previous years. After a few weeks, though, and possible slip-ups, the resolutions seem pointless and tiring. The resolve is gone, and once again, defeat consumes us.
Maybe try again “next year” …. Or maybe never again!
Well, the yearly one is to get back into running, and I’m sure like usual I’ll get started great during this Christmas break, but slowly but surely I’ll stop training and running due to family and career obligations. But my first one is to get back into running.
I’ve been recently reading Dave Ramsey’s “Total Money Makeover.” I plan on implementing a lot of his techniques to help save money. I’m coming to the realization that I’m getting older and I need to start working on my education debt and preparing for my 40s, ha.
Happy New Year!
I make New Year’s resolutions but unfortunately never follow through with them for more that a couple of weeks. There are the usual, get fit, lose weight and my favorite, organize the mess in my house!
This year I am adding “take a trip to somewhere I have never been.” Would love for this one to come to fruition!
I am a very big believer in New Year’s resolutions as it gives us all the chance to review the past and plan for the future.
I always reflect upon the past year and make decisions on what I can do to improve my own performance in this world. This year was a true circle of life with the tremendous loss of friends and family, and the joy of those who came into our lives.
My New Year’s resolutions for 2015 will include embracing the endearing traits of those who have passed, and try to bestow those gifts upon those who have entered our lives. I will focus on improving my parental skills for the grandchildren, fine tune my ability to be patient, and most important, practice tolerance.
This community, this country, and the world deserves nothing less than the best that I can be.
There is never a time when there is not an opportunity to say something kind, do something kind, or simply show compassion for others.
I will let you know how I did next year!
Happy New Year! New beginnings are opportunities for reflection upon what has past and a consideration of where we want to go in the future.
The New Year is a time of new hope, offering us a chance to start afresh and to move in new directions. I used to make long lists of New Year’s resolutions each year, only to have brushed them off and forgotten about them by February. So I tried making a short list of just two or three things to focus on, but with the same results. For the past 10 years or so, I have found something that works very well for me.
At the end of the year, I do a personal inventory, dividing my life into categories such as health (mental, physical, emotional, spiritual); finances; relationships; and career.
I write a summary of highlights of the year and note areas where I’ve made progress, things I need to work on, and in some instances, goals I’d like to strive for.
What this does for me is to honestly take a look at my life, where God is in it, and how I have grown, and where I am stuck. It’s all done with love and grace, allowing myself to make mistakes and learn from them. I actually enjoy reading the past year’s inventories as it paints a marvelous picture of my life. All this is done with prayer and meditation as I ask God for guidance, discernment, and wisdom in the upcoming year.
I love any excuse for a new goal, and a refreshed effort to improve and be better, so I am all for New Year’s resolutions.
“It is better to shoot for the stars and miss, than to shoot for a pile of manure and hit” is a quote I like. Even if you don’t achieve your goal to perfection, you will improve. And I believe progress really is perfection.
“Be more awesome than you were last year” was our family’s resolution for 2014, and we each wrote down four specific goals under that heading: A physical goal, a mental goal, a social goal, and a spiritual goal. We plan to do that again this year.
I do believe in New Year’s resolutions, but I don’t think I always set a realistic goal for myself.
This year, I decided to keep them simple, and that should make them easier to do.
1. Offer more smiles and hugs. If I see someone without a smile, I will give them one of mine. It will make us both feel better.
2. Continue to exercise. I am feeling and looking better, and I can manage my arthritis better when I do.
3. Eat healthier. Give up on some sugar and fast food. (I may not always eat right but I can do better.)
4. Keep in touch with family. You never know when you can’t talk to them anymore.
I believe in New Year’s resolutions but have never been one who tries every year to make one and stick to it.
I’ve had personal events, experiences and circumstances in life that have made more of an impact or given me a reason to want to make a positive change than a New Year’s resolution.
I’m not sure why but I’ve never really been into making New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps because they seem impossible to keep or because the very act of making them implies that you only think about changing something in your life once a year.
My resolutions tend to come weekly, weighing throughout the year their worthiness and success. These resolutions of course are just as difficult to keep as those made on Jan. 1, but I keep trying! We are, after all, human creatures of habit.
Happy New Year!
Sure, I believe in New Year’s resolutions. I’m trying not to spend so much time playing on my phone when I’m with friends and/or love ones. Whether you are playing a game, texting, checking Facebook, etc., you aren’t really “present” with the people you are in the same room with.
It has become one more bad habit for me, but one I’m going to make a concerted effort to control. In addition to making a New Year’s resolution, if you share your resolutions with others, you tend to be more accountable and stick with it.
I don’t really make resolutions anymore, although the idea of eating healthier and exercising more usually comes up after the last Christmas cookie is gone!
I do try to take stock in my life and think about what is important. I’m at the point that things don’t really matter but people and experiences do. Did I leave things undone or unsaid? Did I make a difference in anyone’s life? Did I learn from my mistakes, show appreciation or say “I’m sorry” if needed?
Do I remember to find joy in simple things like digging around in the garden? Skype with Allison and Eileen often? Spend enough time with Bob, friends and family? Find the balance between giving my time and taking time for myself? Let go of frustration, grudges, regret or guilt? Bite my tongue when my opinion isn’t solicited? (OK, that one is really hard and not always attained!)
The New Year is a time for renewal and I do find myself vowing to take more time to enjoy it before it is too late. So, maybe there is still one more Christmas cookie left …
Happy New Year!
Betting on 2015
