Making resolutions for 4,000 years

Ancient Babylonians created the concept of New Year’s resolutions 4,000 years ago. But it was Julius Caesar who established January, named for Janus, the two-faced god, as the beginning of the new year on the calendar. Janus had one face looking forward to the future and one looking backward reflecting on the past.

Today, about 41 percent of people make New Year’s resolutions – and only 9.2 percent feel they are successful at keeping them.

The most common resolutions include:

• Lose weight/eat healthier

• Make better financial decisions

• Quit smoking

• Do good deeds

• Spend more time with family

– Deneen Bloom, S&A Communications