Did you know that only 8 percent of people succeed in their New Year’s resolutions?

I can think of only one person I know personally who has followed through with their resolution. I don’t know why my sweets-obsessed friend vowed to go a year without drinking Dr. Pepper—whether it was a test of endurance or for other reasons— but she sure did it. (It should be noted that I saw her guzzle one down after the clock struck midnight the following year.)

Even though I think Monday is the best day to start getting back into my gym routine, I don’t believe in waiting for January 1 to initiate change or implement personal goals. I think that we should always have goals we work toward and that we continuously strive for growth and improvement.

But many people still reserve new beginnings for the first of the year, which is why several stories in this month’s issue beg the questions: What would you like to accomplish in a year? Is there something new you’d like to try? Maybe a project you keep putting off?

I won’t bore you with my laundry list of tabled ideas and unfinished projects, but as I update my list for the coming year, I’ve found it helpful to reflect on a few accomplishments from 2017.

• I paid off debt and have stayed debt free.
• I met a ton of new people.
• I went snowshoeing for the first time—and enjoyed it!
• I completed my first World Beer Tour at Old Chicago.
• I kept my tradition of going to Vegas at least once a year.
• I explored new places—Mesa Verde and San Diego, to name a few.
• I celebrated 10 years of being in a devoted relationship with my boyfriend, Sam.
• The BEACON brought home a ton of awards, including Best of Show.

BEACON brings home the bacon

There’s no way I can take all the credit for the awards we brought home from the North American Mature Publishers Association convention, but it was our most impressive year since I’ve been with the BEACON. Thank you to the BEACON staff, our freelance writers, supportive advertisers and faithful readers for a successful year! Read more about our award-winning publications.

Romance awaits at this year’s Valentine’s Dance

Get ready to put on your dancing shoes and save the date for the area’s best Valentine’s dance for boomers and seniors. On February 10, the BEACON Senior Newspaper and Hilltop Senior Life Options bring you an evening of fun (and possibly romance), complete with hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and big band dance music by Clark Gault’s Swing City Express, in the Garden Room at The Commons of Hilltop. Advance tickets are $20 per person and $40 per couple. This event sells out—get your tickets by calling Stacey at 243-8829.