Editorial: Think carefully about resolutions

What an inspiration.

In the past week it has been my privilege to interview Bea Yates and Grace Dorset about their New Year's Honours.

Both in their 70s, these women have lost none of their passion, enthusiasm and drive. Each works longer hours than many people in paid employment, with no expectation of personal gain.

Along with the other honoured recipients from the region, they are an example to us all.

If everybody cared about the rest of the community as much as these people, progress would surely be made in addressing many of our social ills.

With this in mind, I challenge myself and you, our readers, to think carefully about New Year's resolutions for 2012.

The old faithfuls of going to the gym, drinking less - alcohol or caffeine, losing weight, spending more time with the family and quitting smoking are fine goals.

In some cases they are necessary for our own health and wellbeing but, let's face it, they are pretty self-centred and most of us fail miserably just weeks into the new year.

Perhaps we need to look further afield for inspiration and motivation.

Instead of setting goals to improve ourselves, think about how we can make our community better.

What skills, interests or knowledge do we have that would be useful to others - as part of an organisation or on an individual basis?

Why not help others while helping yourself?

If you can find time to go to the gym, you can find an hour or two a week to do something for other people.

You may not lose weight or improve your fitness, but you will feel better none-the-less.

Commit the money you save on cigarettes, coffee or alcohol to a good cause.

Set yourself a goal for the first three months and go public so other people can support you or be inspired to do the same.

Find something you can do as a family - you will spend time together and encourage community values in your children.

If these people can do so much, surely each of us can do a little.