With the promise of a new year comes the promise of change. Everyone is making New Year’s resolutions and searching for ways to better themselves.

Fad diets and rigorous exercise programs seem to be all the rage right now. And while eating healthy and taking care of your physical health are always good habits to get in to, I encourage everyone to continue the positive habits established last year too. Selma, as a city, has developed many good habits in the past year that I believe should carry on into the new year.

Encouraging business growth and cutting down on crime are just two examples of good habits Selma has developed.

In the past year we’ve had numerous ribbon cuttings and several initiatives launched that target many socilal issues including youth crime and drug use. Let’s continue those positive habits into the new year.

In 2013, I also encourage everyone to look to some of Selma’s most passionate residents as role models. Whether that is Judge Bob Armstrong, Chamber of Commerce Director Sheryl Smedley or Selma Walton Theater owners David and Sharon Jackson, we can all learn a thing or two from Selma’s most hard working and proactive residents.

As a city we’ve seen many feats and new heights reached this year too. Mayor George Evans’ reelection, the restoration of the city marina, completion of the new Selma High School and several roads repaved and expanded are just a few items on a long list of achievements for Selma in 2012. Let’s add to that list in the new year.

In this new year, I hope Selma residents can also look back on 2012 and learn from mistakes made. Although we strive to be the best we can be, sometimes our efforts unfortunately do fall short. I hope we can pick ourselves up and continue to strive for excellence, which I’m sure we can and will do.

On a county level, I can also attest with confidence that we, without a doubt, have a diligent probate judge and hard-working commissioners who work daily to make Dallas County a more beautiful place and our city more attractive for business growth. I’m confident that with their reelection, they will carry us in to a positive and prosperous new year that we can all be proud of.

So as we sign our names on our new gym memberships and fill our shopping carts with healthy produce, let’s remember to continue all the good habits established last year in to the new year.

I can’t wait to see what great things 2013 has in store for Selma.