MASSENA - With the arrival of the new year comes millions of resolutions made by people from all over the world.

While making a resolution is easy, keeping one seems to be one of the hardest things to do.

And that’s why many people aren’t making resolutions at all, even though they may have made some in the past.

“The one this year is I’m not going to make any, then I don’t have to worry about breaking them,” according to Bob Slyman of Massena. “I just hope this year we did better than we did last year with the cost of living going up.”

While Mr. Slyman may not be making a resolution this year, he said he has made resolutions in the past and actually managed to keep one of them.

“I’m married to her,” he joked, offering up some advice for people who do want to make a resolution for this year.

“You have to make it something that is attainable and not something that is so far out there you know you’re not going to keep it,” he said.

Raymond Donie of Winthrop has made resolutions in the past, but he said he’s never been able to actually keep one, so he’s given up on the annual new year’s venture.

“I’m not doing it anymore,” he said. “I used to try to give up drinking, but I always broke it, and I’ve tried to give up sweets too, but somewhere along the line I always broke it.”

Floyd Hettis of Norfolk said he’s never made a new year’s resolution, and he’s not planning to make one any time soon.

“I don’t believe in any of that crap,” he said. “Bah humbug.”

Massena Mayor James F. Hidy also said he’s never made a new year’s resolution.

“I don’t have one, never have and never will,” Mr. Hidy said. “They’re just too darn easy to break, and it makes you feel like a failure if you can’t live up to it.”

Two people did say they were making resolutions.

Desirae Lawrence of Massena said she usually makes one of every year, but hasn’t been able to keep one yet.

“Maybe for like a week or two,” she said when asked if she’s been able to keep a resolution.

This year though, she said she’s confident this year’s resolution is one she can keep.

“I want to focus on my own personal happiness and not dwell on things so much,” she said.

Heaven Monroe of Norfolk also said she was planning to make a resolution, but as of Monday afternoon she hadn’t decided on what exactly it was going to be.

Ms. Monroe said she’s made resolutions in the past and may have actually fulfilled one, but she said she can’t remember any specifics.

“Maybe if it was something I could do the next day,” she said.

Responding to a posting on the Daily Courier-Observer’s Facebook page, Linda Wynans said she makes one simple resolution every year.

“The only resolution I make is to make the upcoming year better than the last, whether the last was great or not so great,” she wrote.

Also responding via Facebook, John Willits said he avoids making resolutions.

“I don’t (make resolutions)... only because I can’t keep them,” he said.

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