I’ve always been a fan of making new year’s resolutions.

Yes, I know. Most people think they are a waste of time. I’ve heard many people say it’s silly to make new year’s resolutions because we don’t keep them anyway.

Here’s my thought on that. Over the decades some of my frequent new year’s resolutions were to lose weight, exercise more and try not to gorge on unhealthy food.

As a matter of fact those particular resolutions are still the most popular in the country.

Most years before the pandemic after the first of the year, gyms were jammed with people who made resolutions to be healthier and exercise more.

Yes, it’s true that most of them disappeared in a few months. But that doesn’t mean those who made the resolutions failed.

In my book, it means they succeeded for a few months. I know all about that because many years I made that “exercise more” resolution. For a while, l was diligent taking classes at the gym and my resolution worked. But after a few months life got in the way and I stopped going to the gym. When the weather warmed up I opted more for outdoor activities. At least that was what I told myself.

The way I look at it, that doesn’t mean I failed at my new year’s resolutions. If I managed to exercise more and eat better for a few months, that’s a plus as far as I’m concerned.

Decades later here I am, making the same new year’s resolutions: Lose weight, exercise more and eat healthier.

I’ve always believed new year’s resolutions are like stop signs on the road of life. They tell us to stop, assess our lifestyle and make adjustments.

I no longer believe in new year’s resolutions. But that’s only because I don’t believe once a year is enough time for self-assessment as to how I can live a better lifestyle and be a better person.

It’s something I need to do much more frequently than once a year.

I can honestly tell you I make personal resolutions almost every day.

The word “resolutions” comes from the root word “resolve,” meaning to decide firmly on a course of action.

One doesn’t have to wait for once a year to do that.

I found in this pandemic gripping the world I need daily resolutions to keep up my spirits and follow a positive course of action.

I told you last week one of my main resolutions this year is that I won’t let anybody or anything steal my joy.

Mostly, I have stuck with that resolution, primarily because every day I renew my resolve not to let anyone or anything steal joy away from me.

Yet, this week, after I was deeply hurt by someone in what I perceived to be a serious gut-punch, I lost the joy that’s been my daily companion.

Joy was replaced by anger, resentment and confusion.

Here’s where having strong resolutions help.

When I went for my morning walk that is normally a time reserved for my deep gratitude, negative feelings were blocking my joy.

I told myself I had a choice. I could let someone else take away my joy, or I could work on rebuilding the personal peace and joy that is normally mine.

My resolve was to do joyful things. Listening to Andrea Bocelli and his 8-year-old daughter sing “Hallelujah” helped. So did reading touching messages from far-away readers and friends.

I resolved once again to concentrate on all the good in this wonderful world. It worked.

Every year I analyze my life, checking for destructive patterns or areas in need of change. I found several ways I need to change.

One important resolve I made is to stop telling my daughters what they “should” do. I do that by thinking I am helping them by pointing out ways positive changes would help.

Truth be told, they don’t need my help. They are smart, caring and capable women, far beyond the stage where they need parental input.

Psychologists are right when they tell us to beware of using the words “should” and “shouldn’t” because often that means we are making judgment calls that are not ours to make.

I’m getting better at it but I’m not there yet.

One of the many things I love about my relationship with my daughters is that we honestly share feelings. The trick is learning when our advice is needed versus when it’s time to just listen and be supportive.

It took me a lot of years to learn that.

I’ve concluded that life is one long lesson after lesson and it doesn’t matter how old we are - we still have a lot to learn.

When I self-analyze and zero in on an area I need to improve, it usually works, even if it takes a while.

If we’re smart, we never stop learning and never stop improving. Making resolutions helps that learning process.

So here I am, making age-old resolutions I’ve been making for decades: to lose weight, exercise more and eat healthier.

So far I’m having a little progress. Just a little. But I’ll take it because achieving a little progress is better than living each year with no progress at all.

See - resolutions do work. At least for a while.

Contact Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net.