The New Year Is Nearly Here: What Resolutions Will You Make?

Are you considering making a New Year’s resolution on Jan. 1 or thereabouts? Some of our colleagues are quite thoughtful about this tradition, and others have their own way of putting goals in their lives. In this column, adopted from the familiar “Heard on the Street” format, we offer our responders a chance to answer the question posed in the title. These are their replies reported verbatim.

I Resolve To … 

My New Year’s resolution will be to prioritize myself. Included in the many reasons for this is my health, mobility, learning new skills, allowing myself time to develop my personal goals and protect my sanity. But the biggest reason is that I’ve recently been promoted to Grandma, and I plan to be around for many, many years to watch my little guy grow up!

Tonya Crow
GROWMARK Inc.
Bloomington, Illinois

First thing will be to not be so dependent on doing paperwork the old-school way and trust the newer technology to save time. Second is to really go on little trips or a real vacation, as it has been challenging to do so the last few years. Also continue to hope and support our business (meaning all of us), to have a solution regarding the new bobtail crisis and hoping that legislators will listen to us (our propane community) rather than act in a way that could cause our business (meaning all of us) to possibly go out of business, so to speak.

Richard Strycharz Jr.
Walter’s Propane
Sunderland, Massachusetts

Honestly, I really don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but if I were to try to do something with purpose this coming year, I would say I just want to be the best person I can be.

Judy Taranovich
Proctor Gas Inc.
Proctor, Vermont

I’ve decided that instead of one big resolution that takes effect on Jan. 1, I will try focusing on a few key areas starting in December. The ‘New Year’s resolution’ approach is almost destined for failure, with too much pressure directed toward a specific thing. And then there are all your friends checking in to see how it is going. Help! I will start by trying to actually cook some of my dinners (versus microwaving a box) and continuing to actively walk in ALL weather. Hopefully, I will be incredibly successful and be able to introduce some other super impressive goals as the year progresses.

Leslie Woodward
Fairview Fittings
Oakville, Ontario, Canada

I need to connect more with the people I love. My resolution is to intentionally schedule quality time to hang out with my family and friends. I am more of a homebody, so I think two connections per week is a good place for me to start. Social connection is important. More fun people, less work.

Julie Johnson
Ted Johnson Propane
Baldwin Park, California

As we approach 2025, my resolution is to be myself and improve my life in any way I can. I want to be able to achieve my goals for the year without stressing on a single resolution. I hope to enjoy my work and family life. Balance is important to get the most out of life. I plan on bringing my “A” game to everything I do. I will meet and exceed my business goals. I will continue to help people who need it — wherever that may be. I will reflect on my experiences to be a better person and role model for my family. I just want to be the best me I can be.

Ed Varney
Topline Management
McKinney, Texas

I have never made a New Year’s resolution; it’s a tradition I never adopted into my life. When I started my coursework for a continuous improvement-focused degree, it felt very natural to look at everything and think I can do this more efficiently or better than I am now. I think that’s why I don’t do resolutions. If I know today that I want to change or do something, starting it on Jan. 1 seems arbitrary. Why not start now? This is not to say that I lack goals; mine are just not ones that align with the typical New Year’s resolution. I’m always looking for ways to improve myself as a leader, a businesswoman, a mom, a wife and a member of my communities.

Lauren Clark
Bergquist Inc.
Toledo, Ohio

My resolution for the new year is to never make another New Year’s resolution! So many years of making them and not successfully implementing them is just too depressing! Most of mine dealt with weight loss and eating habits. My intentions for the new year are to simply live one day at a time and enjoy all of God’s blessings! I think I will just eat desserts and get all fat and sassy!

Paula Moore
Blackburn Propane Service Inc.
Durant, Oklahoma

An Ancient Tradition

Not everyone is sold on the concept of a New Year’s resolution. A couple of people we often hear from wrote to say this was just not their thing. Let’s look at the history of this practice.

The first recorded people to set new year pledges (later known as resolutions) were the ancient Babylonians around 4,000 years ago, according to history.com. Also, the Babylonians were the first civilization to hold celebrations in honor of the new year. Britannica.com says, “The common people also made promises to the gods and their fellow subjects, resolving, for instance, to pay off debts. Carrying out these resolutions faithfully would ensure the good graces of Marduk and his pals in the coming year. Breaking them could lead to a catastrophic withdrawal of divine favor.”

Making resolutions essentially activates hope and expectations for what we hope to achieve going forward. Some consider them a waste of time since the failure rate is high due to how unspecific and unrealistic the goals can be. However, today people all over the world still make New Year’s resolutions. In the United States, types of resolutions have changed from denying physical indulgences to general self-improvement, which isn’t too different from how the Babylonians’ tradition began.