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It’s a new year and a new decade — time for a fresh start and those new year’s resolutions that so many of us make only to break just a few months and sometimes just weeks later.

Whether your new year’s resolution involves quitting smoking, reframing from alcoholic beverages, getting more exercise, putting away more money for retirement, or my personal favorite, losing the 30 pounds that have now turned into resolving to lose 50 pounds, sometimes we need to reflect before we can move forward.

So why is keeping new year’s resolution so hard? I think because we now live in an internet-driven world where we all want and expect things to happen quickly.

For the most part, most of the resolutions we make do not come quickly; they all take time and dedication and change.

While the resolutions mentioned above are indeed good ones, there are many more that cannot only help you but others too.

As you are reflecting on 2019, ask yourself these questions:

Did I spend enough time with those who matter the most to me?

Was I the kind of parent I truly wanted to be?

Did I apologize when I should have?

Did I show respect to those around me?

Did I help someone in need when I could?

These are the types of resolutions we should strive for.

Remember, nothing changes unless something changes. I challenge all of you who are seeking those new year resolutions to be patient in your quest for change, and in practicing that patience with yourself, you may learn patience for others. And that is a resolution worth keeping.

Crystal Vandegrift is a staff reporter for The Kenbridge-Victoria Dispatch and Farmville Newsmedia LLC. Her email address is Crystal. Vandegrift@KVDispatch.com.