Goodbye to 2014 and hello 2015.

I am always a little sad to see a year end. This year hasn't been all wonderful, but I will overlook that and only recall the good things that happened in the past 12 months.My husband's retirement after 46 years of working, an announcement that we will be grandparents again and realizing a dream of buying a vacation home in South Dakota.These are all exciting, but what really counts was being lucky enough to be surrounded by the love of my husband, children and grandchildren and all the good memories that were made.My sadness will pass at about the 10th ring of the New Year's Eve countdown bell, and I am ready for a brand-new year. It will be welcome 2015.I love to make a few New Year's resolutions as well. This custom started in Rome centuries ago. The Romans did not like the idea that the first month of the year was called Janus.Janus was named in pre-Christian times after the two-faced god who looked backward into the old year and forward in to the new. Janus was the protector of ending and beginnings.The Romans changed the first month of the year to January as they hesitated to observe practices associated with honoring the pagan god Janus. It was at this same time that the custom of setting "New Year's resolutions" began. As this time resolutions were to speak the truth always, never to speak evil of anyone and to establish peace in their daily lives.Today I recently read where the top 10 resolutions for 2015 will be:• Spend more time with family and friends. This is hard. The many hours of running errands, doing chores and earning a living doesn't leave us enough energy or time for the good stuff. Create a family game night, schedule a day out with a loved one or host a gathering for your friends. Choose one activity per week, per month or even per year, but circle the date on the calendar and make it a part of your "to do" list instead of "if I get around to it" list.• Get more exercise. Make a long-term plan, but just start out by walking or another easy mode of exercise to do around your home or the neighborhood.• Lose weight. Don't think diet. Instead think about eating healthy and for your well-being, and think about it as a lifetime plan. Develop the motto "I'm eating for health."• If you smoke, stop now. If you have tried before to stop and failed, it just means it's time to try again.• Enjoy life more. Take up a new hobby, try a new sport, go to the theater or join a local health club. Just remember to laugh each day. Laughing is good for your mind, your heart and your soul.• If you drink, stop. This is a good idea anytime and you don't need a new year's resolution to do it.• Make this your year to get out of debt. This resolution takes some serious work. Download a good computer program or use the old bookkeeping paper and pencil and write down your income and expenses per month. Identify both your long-term and short-term goals. Make a budget and stick to it.• Learn something new. Take a fun class at the community college, learn how to fix your simple computer problems or learn a new language.• Help others. Find something that feels meaningful for you. Volunteer at the library or the hospital, visit the nursing homes or just a chitchat with a lonely neighbor now and again. Not only will you make others feel better, you will too.• Get organized. Be it your home, office or garage. This always sounds like such a great idea but can be very overwhelming and can end in frustration. The key to success here is to break each task down into manageable segments and give yourself a time limit. Set small goals and you will feel your progress immediately. It will give you the incentive to keep going until the project is done.Resolutions or not, make this your best year yet.Happy New Year and welcome 2015 to all you Times News readers out there!