Ahh, the first week of January —the treadmills at the gym are full, liquor stores are quiet, and smokers are donning their Nicotine patches. Don't worry, for many, this won't last long.

What is it Mark Twain said? "New Year's Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual."

According to www.newyearfestival.com, the following statistics reveal how many of these New Year's resolutions are sustained as the year progresses:

                  Past the first week: 75%

                  Past 2 weeks: 71%

                  After one month: 64%

                  After 6 months: 46%

This site also states "about 67 percent of people make three or more resolutions." Well, that's just too ambitious for my taste. I like to change one bad habit at a time.

Although, I like the way Scott Broerman thinks. This year, Broerman, co-owner of Fleet Feet intends to make a personal resolution as well as a running resolution. His running resolution is to "run Rim to Rim to Rim (R2R2R) with (his) brother." What is Rim to Rim, you ask? I know I did. Broerman explains:

"R2R2R is a 44-48 mile Ultra Run going down one side of the Grand Canyon and up the other and then making the return trip. It is grueling I hear and my brother has done it twice. He is the definition of an Iron Man. That guy will do anything! I may not make it though as my personal resolution will take precedence. But I'll put it on my resolution list and not feel too bad if I do not get there."

The personal resolution that will take precedence Broerman says is to "be a better husband/dad and take more time off work for family."

Renée Seigley is co-owner of The Lil' Lamb Shop and, according to What's Up? Magazine, she is one of 2010's most eligible singles in Annapolis. So, what would a lovely, successful single blonde want to do differently in the New Year? Her resolution is probably not what you would expect. I decided to ask her and this is Seigley's response:

"I do typically have resolutions and try to keep them. I find that the best way to do that is to write it down and then check in occasionally. I also share them with a few friends so that we can hold each other accountable. Last year, I was committed to changing my career after 14 years with the same company. I did so and I'm very happy with the outcome. This year I really need to focus on getting more organized as a business owner and a consultant."

Organization. I know, it's not what I would have guessed, but it got me thinking about my own patterns of behavior.

For a long time I kept a gratitude journal. I wrote at least a line or two everyday. When my life filled up with the exact things I was grateful for having— love, friendships, laughter, family, a job— I stopped writing. It dawned on me very recently that I haven't necessarily stopped being grateful, but by not actively acknowledging my grateful heart, that feeling of appreciation gets buried under those more persistent feelings of worry, fear, and anxiety.

So, I resolve to stop each day and turn up the volume on my thankfulness. That's my number one resolution. My second is turning up the volume on my pink Ipod and hitting the gym. Hey, it wouldn't be a new year if I didn't put that on my list as well.