FeedsSuccessful resolutions require solid planning
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Lauren Ascione of Northville and her boyfriend, John Toth, don’t put much stock in New Year’s resolutions.It didn’t take too long for Kathleen Hardy to figure out her New Year’s Resolution for 2007.
“I want to know more about computers than my daughter does,” said the Farmington Hills resident while shopping in downtown Plymouth. Hardy said she has to refer to her elementary school-aged child for computer advice. This year she wants to learn the inner workings of the family PC.
“I want to be able to download all the pictures from our digital camera to our computer,” she said.
As much an American tradition as the Christmas tree and Santa Claus, many people use the change of the calendar to make a pact to change or improve their lives. Whether it’s learning the inner working of a computer or eating healthier, the New Year brings hope of a new beginning and a clean slate.
“We make resolutions because we’re always in a mode of trying to improve ourselves,” said Katherine Gothard, a psychotherapist with a practice in Plymouth. She believes the goals people set for New Year resolutions are mostly positive, but said many will fail because they do not prepare for success.
“Most of the time people fail because they have no plan of action,” Gothard added.
Gothard encourages her patients to break down their resolutions into “mini-goals” and to incorporate change into their lives slowly. For example, if a person wants to lose 50 pounds, Gothard recommends going to the gym two days a week instead of five.
“The changes have to fit your lifestyle, be a part of your flow,” said Gothard who warns against people making drastic changes without taking their work schedules or family obligations in consideration.
“You start off all gung-ho then all of the sudden you stop because you didn’t prepare,” said Gothard. “When you add changes to your life, something suffers.”
While some made a firm commitment to live up to their New Year resolutions, others haven’t come up with their lists.
“I’ll do what I always do,” said Richard Goldszer, a civil engineer with Dietrich, Bailey and Associates in Plymouth. “Come up with it at 11:30 p.m.on Dec. 31,” he said.
Goldszer said he’d rather focus on living each day to the fullest, instead of worrying about major changes for a year. “Resolutions aren’t a big deal to me. When I make them they’re often half-baked,” said Goldszer.
He said he enjoys life by playing video games and staying in good physical shape.
“I’m living pretty much the way I want to,” he added.
These are some of the resolutions your neighbors pledge to keep in 2007.
“I’m hoping to drink more water, take vitamins and spend more time with my family,” said Eboni Gallagher of Canton Township.
“I want to be more time efficient. Have more hours in the day to do the thing I like,” said Beverly Whitby, owner of GiGi Mode Boutique in Plymouth.
“I gave up on New Years resolutions, they never work out,” said Lauren Ascione, of Northville as her boyfriend, John Toth, said he has no need to make one.
“I don’t have any vices,” he said.
