By JERRIA MARTIN | Drug Free Communities of Dallas County

What’s your 2018 New Year’s resolution? How did your 2017 resolution work out?

While attending Stillman, my friends and I would make out long elaborate lists of things in our lives we wanted to improve upon in the upcoming year, from losing 40-50 pounds in three months, to becoming fluent in French in six months.

I realized around that time, just after undergrad, that when considering New Year’s resolutions, one shouldn’t just dream big, but dream reasonably!

When planning your resolutions, having manageable goals and a firm but flexible timeline will help keep them alive in 2018.

For example, if your New Year’s resolution is to travel more, start by exploring sites in or around Alabama on the weekends.

If your resolution is to learn a new language, try mastering basic conversational phrases and practice weekly with someone who’s well versed in the language.

Or if your resolution is to get in shape, focus on small impactful changes to your fitness routine and diet each day.

Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day, it takes time, commitment and patience in order to make a lasting positive change.

You can do it! Dream big, but dream reasonably.

Even though some of our dreams were huge and a bit unrealistic, a valuable lesson I did pick up from my friends at Stillman was that in order to stick to my resolutions, I needed their support.

We all need support and encouragement to help us achieve our goals.

Thus, as you make your resolutions, share them with your friends and family, allow them to assist you and hold you accountable.

Remember, the resolutions you make for 2018 will not only impact you for 365 days, but they will also continue to serve as a solid foundation for your future lifestyle transformations.

Former WWE wrestler and actor, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson once quoted, “Think back 5 years ago, think of where you’re at today, think ahead 5 years and what you want to accomplish. Be unstoppable!”

You’ll never truly realize how extraordinary you can be if you never get started.

Start now with an actionable plan!

Take the steps needed to start 2018 with a bang and end with a boom!

If you happen to have a minor setback in 2018, let it be the fuel for your major comeback! You can do it!

Dream big, set your goals, share them, and then work hard to achieve them, because there is illuminating, strategic, and revitalizing hope in reasonable resolutions!

Martin is a Selma native, minister and executive director of Drug Free Communities of Dallas County. She can be reached at ministerjerria@gmail.com.