Resolutions, like rules, are made and then frequently broken. According to surveys, 40 percent of us devise at least one New Year’s resolution each year. Half of us actually keep our resolutions – a percentage that seems higher than what experience tells us.
Even when we follow through on them, a resolution’s life span is short—weeks or, at most, months. Permanent change seems to come from someplace deeper than a casual resolution.
 For example, those who regularly exercise at the gym expect to see a crop of newbies every January. These are the people who resolve to join the Y or The Forum on South Main Street, Salisbury, and finally do. “The uptick in membership in January and February is huge,” said Forum co-owner Matt Marsh. “Usage usually starts dropping off in March and April. There is a 24 to 28 percent drop from February.”
For those who resolve to lose that elusive 10 pounds, most try it on their own in January and February, says Karen Hedrick of the Beverly Hills Weight Loss and Wellness Program on Jake Alexander Boulevard. Her spike in membership occurs in March and April, “when people want to get ready for the beach and realize they can’t do it on their own without encouragement and counseling.” Another weight loss program, Jenny Craig, offers Resolution Refresh, a collection of special incentives and challenges beginning in March for those who have failed at dieting on their own.
Jim Emmett, a licensed clinical social worker with Family Therapy Institute on Statesville Boulevard, does not encourage New Year’s resolutions. “They are just one more thing that clients haven’t followed up on. It just sets them up for failure,” said Emmett. In his experience, men and women are about equal in their resolve to behave differently, but that’s only when they absolutely have to. “It takes going to prison, the end of a marriage, or hitting rock bottom, for people to change.”
Also Known As Goals
Despite repeated failures, Americans like resolutions. Steady, self-confident, decisive and resolute people are role models for the rest of us. Ever since elementary school, we have looked up to those who go through life filled with personal goals and strategies to improve. And we champion the brave souls who make a fresh start after getting knocked down by life. The Cheshire cat was right when he told Alice, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” We like being on the road to improvement because sometimes, against all odds, we actually get there.
In these hard economic times, we expect the road to improvement to be a bit rocky and pot-holed. But we continue to hope that the bright, shining city on the hill will appear just around the bend. Is that hope justified for 2012? Dr. Eric Hake, associate professor of economics and finance at Catawba College, thinks not.
“Nothing tells me to be optimistic. It doesn’t seem like we are dealing with the problems we have,” he said. If he were to make a New Year’s resolution for cities, states or the federal government it would be, “Borrow and invest.” “Interest rates are low so it is a good time to borrow. It’s also a good time to invest in whatever will cause society to do better in the future.”
Dr. Hake’s resolution is a good one, said Randy Hemann, executive director of Downtown Salisbury, Inc., but only if we “went back to things that would last.” Hemann favors investing in downtown infrastructure, like the improved sidewalks on East Innes Street. The last federal stimulus package had too many quick-fix projects and red tape, said Hemann.
Rockers Reflect
 Resolve played a large role in the success of High Rock Community Church. It began in 2004 with five families meeting in Ray Johnson’s living room. Today it has 2,000 members in six Piedmont locations – Salisbury East, Salisbury West, Denton, Kannapolis, Lexington and, since October, Albemarle. It is one church with the same activities, programs and experiences in multiple locations. “We’re like Wal-Mart,” said Johnson, now High Rock’s lead pastor.
New Year’s is “a great time to reflect on the previous year and learn from the mistakes we have made,” said Johnson. His resolutions involve more than eating salads or running on a treadmill. “We need to look at our spiritual condition too.” He recommends that High Rockers resolve to “Get into the Bible and get the Bible into you.” Johnson suggests reading the Bible one book at a time, in bits and pieces. Those who take small bites will be surprised at how easy it is to digest. For the residents of Rowan County, Johnson has a much broader resolution: Try church again for the first time. “Church is dramatically different from what we remember as a child,” he said.
Trance Perchance
For those who are tired of seeing good resolutions end up in the dumpster, hypnosis may be an answer. Patti Lyerly, of Lyerly Counseling Services on South Main Street in Salisbury, teaches groups how to use hypnosis for their own betterment. “The results are wonderful,” said Lyerly, a licensed clinical social worker and a consultant with the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.
“People have reduced pain, stopped bad habits, quit smoking, lost weight, decreased anxiety, increased performance and lowered their cholesterol.” Her husband passed two kidney stones without pain pills thanks to her instruction.
Lyerly’s self-hypnosis group provides hope to Rowan’s resolution-challenged. They call themselves Miracles Happen.
 Homeless Community
Kyna Foster is one of those rare individuals who makes and keeps her New Year’s resolutions. Foster, who heads Rowan Helping Ministries (RHM), vowed last year to schedule health screenings, lose five pounds, get on a vitamin regimen and return to running. The screenings were done by May and the others were accomplished during 2011. “I’m now running two miles a day, four days a week,” said Foster.
She also made a resolution for Rowan Helping Ministries. For 2011, Foster resolved to increase collaboration between RHM and the larger community. After all, she said, “We were started as a collaboration among churches.” Check off that resolution, too. “Twice a month our New Tomorrows group (for shelter guests) meets at Waterworks Visual Arts Center.” Surrounded by art and involved in creative activities, people who were homeless learned to express themselves in ways many never imagined. From being creative in the studio, shelter guests have moved to finding creative ways of making a contribution to society. With the blessing of the City of Salisbury, twice a month guests clean the block across the street from RHM. That’s their neighborhood, and they want it looking nice.
Foster has given some thought to a 2012 resolution for Rowan County: We resolve to use our talents and resources to meet the basic human needs in our community. It does not matter how young or old you are or if you have nothing or possess great wealth. Everyone has something to contribute to help people in need. Perhaps our New Year’s resolutions would be more successful and doable if they moved beyond the personal to embrace others.
Story by Pete Prunkl
Photography by High Rock Lake Church, Rowan Helping Ministries and
Donnie Moose
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