Happy New Year!

How did last year's New Year's resolutions work out for all of you? Hopefully better than mine!

While I had made a noble resolution to improve my diet and to get more exercise, a convenient shoulder pain prevented me from achieving my lofty fitness goals. I don't have an excuse for my failure to improve my diet. But if given enough time, I'm sure I could come up with something.

As I type these words, I am reminded of a quote by William James: "To change one's life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly."

That's my plan this year. I plan on getting a jumpstart on this whole resolution thing and beginning my exercise regime immediately, or at least by tomorrow.

I plan to procrastinate less. On the home front, I hope to pick stuff up off the floor instead of walking around it, and I plan on doing more household chores - besides the obligatory husband duties such as taking out the garbage and cooking on the grill. I also plan on finishing my novel and cleaning my office.

I can only hope that writing down these goals and sharing them with the world works better for me than last year's feeble attempt, which, as far as resolutions go, borders on abysmal failure.

But enough about me. Let me tell you about some changes to Senior Times Magazine. This year, we are launching an online contest allowing our loyal readers to submit original stories and photographs to the Senior Times Web site. Winners will see their art appear in the print version of Senior Times Magazine and receive a $50 gift card. All entries must be submitted online for consideration.

So, as soon as you have finished reading this edition, get on your computer and surf on over to SeniorTimesMagazine.com and check it out. The Web site continues to grow and now offers more news bits, important information for Seniors, community forums and - of course - your stories.

We start off the new year with our continuing series of veteran's profiles, this month featuring Ocala native and World War II veteran Richard Sanders.

Throughout the year, we hope to profile Seniors with interesting hobbies, beginning this month with Rita Olesen, whose passion is making and collecting dolls.

If you have an interesting hobby, please send us a letter and let us know about it.

This month, Senior Times welcomes a new writer to the publication, Wendy Norman, who shares with us her experiences at the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire in Gainesville.

Also in this edition, Laura Wright gives us a brief history of New Year celebrations and resolutions - which actually began some 4,000 years ago.

And speaking of resolutions, now it is time for me to run out and begin my exercise routine. Or maybe tomorrow. I'm feeling pretty full after that ginormous lunch I just consumed. §