Folks in Sisters make their New Year's resolutions

'Tis the season for folks to focus on bettering themselves. Around the world, people are making their New Year's resolutions.

When asked about their resolutions, some Sisters residents responded with humor, some with thoughtful consideration, while others admitted they make no formal resolutions at the beginning of the year, choosing instead to make efforts throughout the year or do nothing different.

There were common reactions upon first hearing the inquiry: Nervous laughter and low groans.

The dictionary defines resolution as the state or quality of being resolute, firm determination, decision, decree, promise, solution. Several synonyms include tenacity, perseverance, doggedness. Perhaps it is those words that make us groan when we think of resolutions - something that is going to require dogged determination and hard work to accomplish.

What if we used the words transformation, unfolding or evolution instead?

The making of New Year's resolutions has a long history. The ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts. The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named. In the medieval era, the knights took the "peacock vow" at the end of the Christmas season each year to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry.

In Sisters it appears many people choose goals that are in line with their basic values, therefore hopefully affording them a greater possibility of success. Below are the aspirations of some of your fellow Sisters Country residents. How do they line up with yours?

• Liam Hughes, executive director of SPRD: "I am boring. I am just doing the same as probably half of all Americans and going with the 'try to live a more healthy lifestyle' option. I think I have probably put on about 15 pounds since moving to Sisters a few months ago, so I am going to try to eat healthier and be more physically active."

• Seth Norman, employee at Baxter Auto Parts: "I don't generally make resolutions because I don't like lying to myself."

• Kimry Jelen, artist and horse trainer: "Hold onto the wonderful feeling of the support and encouragement this community has given me so I can paint amazing paintings to take to the World Equestrian Games this summer in France. Stay focused on that plan, breathe deeply often and trust that it will work out. It's the Chinese 'Year of the Horse' after all!"

• Bob Collins, president of Sisters Science Club: "It's always the same: Paying attention to the everyday things in life."

• Roberta Wilson, Sisters resident: "I gave up on that a long time ago. It just wasn't as important later on as when I made it. It was usually to lose 10 pounds."

• Kathy Deggendorfer, artist: "Learn to play the ukulele."

• Karen Keady, esthetician: "Actually I made more than one. I have always wanted to learn to play chess so I guess the resolution (is) to find somebody with the patience to teach me chess."

• Bill Merrill, former city council member: "I gave up on resolutions years ago when I found it was so hard to improve on perfection!"

• Jay Mather, photographer: "Hmm, I usually don't make them. This year, however, I'll try to photograph more sunrises and get the callouses back on my guitar-playing fingers. The real resolutions, as you might read between the lines, are to get up and out earlier in the day instead of lazing around in bed in the morning and then to actually pick up the guitar and practice."

• Michael Corning, Sisters resident: "Hadn't thought about it. What did I miss? After Christmas I will stop going to Sisters Coffee every day and having my quad latte and ultimate cookie."

• Ann Richardson, Sisters Folk Festival: "I typically don't make resolutions 'cause I can't stand the disappointment. But I will stick my neck out and resolve to do more river trips."

• A two-year resident of Sisters who wished to remain anonymous: "I am not a hard-core resolution maker because I tried for so long to make resolutions without much follow-through. My goal is to attend church more often and be kinder to my husband. Not nag him so much."

• Bonnie Malone, chiropractor: "I don't make formal resolutions at the beginning of the year because I don't like assigning a specific date or time period to making changes."

• Jeff Omodt, community volunteer: "Find new ways to engage and empower our young people and then help make it happen and celebrate and support all the people who already do that."

• Mike Silva, pastor at Sisters Community Church: "To give away something of extreme value to a person who will NEVER be able to pay me back, or know who I am."

• Lance Trowbridge, adjutant of the Sisters American Legion post, resolves to reach more than 100 percent of their membership goal for 2014 by the end of the year. He proudly reported that they were already at 114 percent of the goal by January 3 with 73 total members. So now he is aiming to raise that number to 80. Sisters Post 86 already has the highest percentage of goal membership from among all 11 districts in the state.

• Karen Kassy, health consultant: "I take the New Year's intention idea pretty seriously. I sit with it to see what feels right. I usually only pick one, because one is doable, and more can be overwhelming. However, this year I am choosing two: to be kinder and gentler with myself; and, to do only one thing at a time instead of multi-task."