4 JANUARY 1,2007
Smoke Signals
!ew Year's Resolutions A Long Time Tradition
By Toby McCIary
As 200( comes to an end and
2007 holds promise and angst,
many will try to better them
selves through an ancient tra
dition known as a New Year's
resolution.
Some popular resolutions in
clude maintaining fitness or ap
pearance, eliminating the usage
of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs
and eating sensibly or exercising
more often.
"I always make the same
resolution every year," said
Medical Secretary and Tribal
member Kim Campbell, "to lose
weight."
The research on new year's
resolutions indicate that about
75 of resolution-makers have
followed through after the first
week. The number then drops
to about 50 af
ter the first six
months. Less
than 10 of peo
ple reach the one
year mark with
their resolution.
"I never follow
through with
my resolution,"
said Campbell.
"There is just too
much sugar out
there."
According
to the proactive-coach.
com
website, many
people do break
their resolutions
but those that
make them are
more likely to at
tain their goals
than those that
do not.
Here are sev
eral tips you
can use to help
ffollow through
j with your reso-
lutions:
Rp rpalist in
Do not set
a goal that is
unattainable.
Don't keep it a
secret Talk
about your
goals to those
who are close to
you. Let them
help encourage
you.
Track your
progress
Keep track of
your small suc
cesses day-by-day.
This will
help you to
reach the overall goal.
Stick to it Experts say it
takes about six months for a
habit to become part of your
personality.
Don't give up If for some
reason you fail, that opens
a door for a new beginning.
There is no reason you can't
make a New Year's resolution
any time of the year.
Not everybody makes a resolu-
Brisbois, "doesn't believe in
them."
"It's about setting a goal," said
Marietta. "The majority of the
Some popular resolutions include maintain
ing fitness or appearance, eliminating the
usage of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs and
eating sensibly or exercising more often.
tion and not everybody believes
in them.
Tribal member and Mainte
nance Technician Tyson Mercier
said he doesn't see the sense
in making resolutions on New
Year's.
"It's for the weak," said Mer
cier. "If you want to do some
thing, then do it. You don't have
ones I have made, I have fol
lowed through with."
Making a resolution doesn't
always have to be about personal
appearance or health. Behavior
al Health Secretary Nadine Burt
said that she usually makes one
every year but that this year's is
different.
"This year I am buying a
to wait until the beginning of the
year to accomplish something."
And Patient Registration
Assistant Marietta Brisbois
(Colville) said that even though
she makes one every year, her
husband, Tribal member and
Recreation Coordinator Melvin
house," she said. "And my goal
is to follow through with it."
According to www.addern.com,
the celebration of the New Year
is the oldest of all holidays. It
was first observed in ancient
Babylon about 4000 years ago.
In the years around 2000 BC,
Babylonians celebrated the be
ginning of a new year on what
is now March 23, although they
themselves had no written cal
endar. Late March actually is a logi
cal choice for the beginning of a
new year. It is the time of year
that spring begins and new crops
are planted. January 1, on the
other hand, has no astronomical
or agricultural significance. It
is purely arbitrary.
The Babylonian New Year
celebration lasted for eleven
days. Each day had its own
particular mode of celebration,
but it is safe to say that modern
New Year's Eve festivities pale
in comparison.
The Romans continued to ob
serve the New Year on March 25,
but their calendar was continually
tampered with by
various emperors
so that the calen
dar soon became
out of synchroni
zation with the
sun. In order to
set the calendar
right, the Roman
senate, in 153 BC,
declared Janu
ary 1 to be the
beginning of the
New Year. But
tampering cori
tinued untiLilH
lius Caesar, in 46
BC, established
what has come to
be known as the
Julian calendar.
It again estab
lished January 1
as the New Year.
But in order to
synchronize the
calendar with the
sun, Caesar had
to let the previous
year drag on for
445 days.
Although the
date for New
Year's Day is
not the same in
every culture, it
is always a time
for celebration
and for customs
to ensure good
luck in the com
ing year.
As part of
helping those
who wish to lose
weight, the Well
ness Department
will be hosting a
Weight Watch
ers program be
ginning after the
first of the New Year. If you
are interested in participating
please contact Tribal member
and Health Promotion Specialist
Tracy Biery. D
Graphic by
George Valdez