Did you stop eating chocolate on the couch in the evening? Cut back on the alcohol intake? Have you been for a walk every single morning before work?

New year resolutions, love them or hate them, have become part of our social fabric.

Thousands of years ago in ancient times, new year resolutions were not made in January, but rather when the crops were planted.  

Promises were made to gods in the hope that this would bring a healthy and prosperous harvest.

And then over time it became a Christian tradition to resolve before God to become a better person.

Today it seems we use the new year to make promises to ourselves.  While the spirit of the tradition continues, wanting to become better people than we were last year, it’s a pledge with our own minds and more often than not, our bodies.

The most common one I still hear to this day, is the desire to give up smoking.

It’s a ghastly killer that is legal for anyone over the age of 18; a killer that harms unborn babies and children who grow up in an environment where adults choose to inflict their second-hand smoke on them.

And of course, our law-makers say it’s okay despite it costing millions and millions of dollars to counteract the harmful and deadly effects of inhaling nicotine.

Now don’t think I am being judgemental here.

I had my first cigarette as a 15-year-old.  It was the naughtiest thing I had ever done.  

At the school gym after hours while I was supposed to be rehearsing for a drama performance, my best friend and I inhaled mouthfuls of smoke.

It was one of those classic moments of going bright red in the face, coughing until my eyes watered and I vomited. 

Let me tell you it was my friend who bought the cigarettes and it was the same friend who doubled over in laughter at my feeble attempt to be cool.    

Cool I was not – it stank, and my mum knew straight away.

But a fresh start doesn’t always need to be associated with a date or time of year.

In fact, some of the best decisions to change some part, or all your life, come from a quiet moment when you decide you simply don’t wish to continue the path you have been walking.

My new year’s resolution for 2018 did not however come from a quiet moment, but rather from a frantic morning screaming-fest involving kids, a husband, a taxi driver and breakfast.

My aim is to be calmer in the midst of a storm.  

Mind you, I think this was also last year’s resolution as well!