SIDNEY — The practice of making a resolution on New Year’s dates to the ancient Babylonians. The Babylonians, to garner favor with the gods, would make promises at the turning of the year. In most cases these promises included returning borrowed farm equipment or repayment of debt.

Today’s resolutions may mirror these in the form of the promise to get debt-free; however, the most common modern resolutions are to lose weight and to quit drinking or smoking.

Some resolutions consist of a vow to do something for the community.

“I resolve to continue to work to make Sidney an even better place to live, work, worship and raise a family,” said Sidney Mayor Mike Barhorst.

Ed Ball, executive director of Shelby County Veterans Services, and his office put together a presentation to convince lawmakers and other officials that Navy veterans in Vietnam were deserving of presumptive exposure to Agent Orange. They came close to succeeding.

“In 2017 we will utilize our political capital, gained in 2016, pick up additional cosponsors in Congress, and push the issue onto the floor for a vote, to reinstate the Veteran Affairs benefits to our Blue Water Navy veterans across the nation. At the same time, our office staff will provide outstanding customer service and assist our veterans and their beneficiaries in obtaining the VA benefits they have earned while proudly serving our nation. That is our New Year’s Resolution for 2017,” said Ball.

“New Year’s resolutions, come and go. They all seem to start out with good intentions, sound and feel good, but there are times where you fall off the horse, then you have to jump up, knock the dirt off, and simply remount and try again,” Ball said

Some resolutions consist of the promise to take better care of yourself. And to help others in the process.

“My New Year’s resolution is to engage in self-care rather than just talk about it,” said Jacqueline Allen, local psychologist in private practice as Western Ohio Psychological Services LLC.

Jeremy Morris, executive director of Samaritan Works, said, “I would like to continue to strengthen my executive management portfolio while finishing my graduate schooling and NIAAA Certifications in Athletic Administration. I also want to get back into coaching baseball on either a high school or collegiate level. My family and I have been and will continue to devote more of our time and energy towards our participation in community related church functions by participating in volunteer charity work while mentoring and supporting others in need across the region. We are also looking forward to building our relationship and communications process with our Compassion’s Christian Child Sponsorship Ministry friend Kerry who lives in Haiti.”

Still others do not put stock in New Year’s resolutions, instead believing those changes are not limited to once a year.

“I think that it’s always good to remind yourself to be a better person than you were yesterday and get in the habit of making small, lasting improvements where they are needed and when the time is right. Periodically, throughout the year, I take stock of my life. How am I doing in my personal and professional existence? What realistic changes can I make today and tomorrow that will improve my output in life? Sometimes those realistic changes reset my course. Sometimes it makes the journey just that much more rich. One specific way to make the biggest impact on yourself and your world is to give of yourself to others. Whether in time or money, your choice to help another or your community will certainly make a lasting imprint on the world and yourself. If we all just challenged ourselves to do good once a day, week or month, the world would be a much happier and successful place,” said Amy Breinich, Sidney Alive! executive director.

Even though most resolutions are abandoned, Web MD reports that there is a way to make your resolutions more likely to last and be achieved. Instead of making broad resolutions, make more reasonable changes. Form these resolutions in ways that are specific, measurable, and positive.

And return that borrowed farm equipment!

In addition, avoid being hard on yourself. If you slip up on your resolution, take a step back, refocus, and start again.