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January 2, 2009

Locals resolve to stay on track with New Year’s goals

By Darragh Doiron



Dieters, smokers, spenders and procrastinators are united this time of year.

Neighborhoods are filled with additional walkers, all motivated by their New Year’s resolutions. Will the streets be as crowded in a week or two?

Maybe 2009 will be different. Maybe those who resolved to do more or less of something just might stay on track.

Planning and motivation are keys to success, but how to keep up the momentum? Gwen Stelly is counting on a higher power.

“I plan to read the Bible more,” Stelly said.

By reading more, she said she hopes to live like the Good Book says, instead of what she might like. Stelly, a former Groves resident, will be reading her Bible in Orangefield.

Both Andie Duquette and Dianna Nicotre of Groves faithfully rotated work out machines at Curves the first week of January. They claim they’d have come New Year’s Day if it had been open.

“For the health benefits if nothing else,” Nicotre said.

She then admitted to another draw.

“It’s loads of fun,” she revealed.

That’s when Duquette let out that her membership’s socializing benefits were as important as the health ones.

“We shoot the bull. It’s hilarious,” Duquette said.

Nederland’s Melissa Matute made an economy-based pledge to “stay out of debt.”

Stress avoidance is a common resolution, and maybe that’s what Patricia Bonton of Port Arthur will decide on. She’s under no pressure to commit, but she’s prepared to resolve something.

“I’ve been thinking about it, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet,” Bonton said.

Try these motivational tips:

• Get a buddy with the same resolution for support.

• For dieters: Keep an outfit in the size you’d like to wear at the front of your closet.

• For health: Clean out unhealthy foods from the pantry and don’t buy any more temptations.

• For organization: Try tackling five small things a day, or one thing in each room. Clear out what you don’t use and donate it to a worthy cause.

• Need help to stop smoking? www.cancer.org has information on Stay Quit Mondays.

• Want to feel good? Do something for someone else. Volunteer your time or money with a charitable group. Become a mentor to someone new or help someone you already know.



ddoiron@panews.com

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