People make resolutions every new year, but not everyone follows through. It seems everyone talks about self-improvement - eating better or exercising. For others, it’s quitting smoking or drinking,

 

A few people in the Clearwater area talked about their goals, expectations and even resolutions for 2018.

 

“I haven’t made any resolutions for awhile,” says Ann Stang, manager at the Clearwater Legion. “I guess I’m not that ambitious.”

 

Her last resolution was three years ago when she decided to quit smoking. Did she succeed?

 

“Unfortunately I didn’t,” she says. “I’ll have to try a little bit harder than I have been.”

 

John Notsch made a resolution he didn’t plan on making. He recently had a Dept. of Transportation physical for his commercial driver’s license.

 

“With the new system they have now, they said I had high blood pressure. I never did before,” he says. “Now I have to go to the doctor and figure it out. I guess my resolution will be to lower my blood pressure.”

 

Joan Linder, who works at the Legion Club, says she doesn’t make New Year’s resolutions.

 

“I don’t really have any. ... Maybe to keep serenity in my life,” she says. “I think it’s a daily thing for me - not just the first of the year. I think I’ve already worked my stuff out.”

 

Linder says she always looks at doing new things.

 

“Sometimes I’ll think of stuff and it makes me curious,” she says. “I want to learn how to play craps. Does that sound weird?”

 

Wally Westerberg doesn’t have any resolutions for 2018  and hasn’t made any for years.

 

He made a big lifestyle change about 15 years ago and is now a regular at the gym.

 

“A lot of people join in January and quit by February. I kept that resolution,” he says.

 

Now he’s a member of the Silver Sneakers program, where health insurance pays for his gym membership if he continues to keep up his workouts.

 

“So there are perks to being retired,” he says.

 

Cheryl Johnson, natural foods manager at Coborn’s, has a big resolution for 2018 - getting in shape for walking the Superior Hiking Trail this September.

 

“It’s 350 miles long,” she says. “It’ll take three to five weeks to walk and camp every night.”

 

Cheryl got started by walking in Lake Maria on New Year’s Day in sub-zero temperatures.

 

“I love to hike. I always had a dream of walking the Appalachian Trail, but that’s not going to happen,” she says. “Now I want to get in shape for the Superior Trail before I start - not while I’m on the trail.”

 

Her strategy: Eat less, move more.

 

Jan Wicks says she doesn’t have a resolution.

 

“I just always pray for a better year than last year,” she says. “I’m just happy to be here.”