Living up to new year's resolutions
Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Fort Simpson (Jan 05/01) - After the hoopla that accompanies the New Year's countdown, the reality of resolutions often begins to sink in.
Whether it's depriving one's self of a particular vice or improving one's health, when the calendar turns to Jan. 1, many of us still make a steadfast decision to better ourselves. It's a tradition that some loathe but others perceive as a worthy quest for self-improvement.
The staff at the Fort Liard health centre is encouraging community members to quit smoking in the new year, says Lynne Morin, nurse-in-charge. They will be handing out literature and offering moral support to that end.
More importantly, the staff are role models because they are all non-smokers... well, almost.
"None of the employees here, with the exception of Mr. (Mike) Drake, smoke," Morin said.
That was then. Drake, it should be duly noted, pledged to give up his habit of smoking cigars as of the New Year.
"I quit smoking cigarettes just over two years ago. I had smoked cigarettes for 20 years," Drake said. "I started smoking cigars just for fun but they stink and I get a lot of abuse, so I'm going to quit."
Beyond advocating that the public quit smoking, Morin said she has her own personal resolution: "get more exercise." She added she has been making that same promise every year.
In Fort Providence, Theresa Bonnetrouge said she has a very important resolution in mind.
"To spend more time with my family, that would be my New Year's resolution because I'm very, very busy," she said.
Bonnetrouge has had success with her past new year's promises. Last year she affirmed she would help out her daughter, Charlene, who was away at school. She did just that.
Pat Switzer, of Fort Simpson, doesn't bother making resolutions.
"No, I never do because then I might have to follow through on it," she laughed. "Whenever I find something about myself that I want to change, then I say, 'OK, I'm going to work on this starting now.' It works better for me that way than making a New Year's resolution."
Of course, the vow has to be realistic too, Switzer added.
"I could never in a million years make a resolution that I'm never going to eat cheesecake again," she said.
