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Well, here we are in mid-January. How are those New Year’s resolutions going? The fact that the second Friday in January is called “Quitters Day” provides a pretty clear answer. Even if you made it to this point, research shows that most of us will throw in the towel before the end of January.

Why is that? Why are we so quick to quit? New Year’s resolutions are notoriously focused on health – increased trips to the gym, more meditation, promises to diet – so why do we abandon those worthy goals after such a short time? There are many reasons. Often, they’re too vague. Perhaps they’re too long term. Maybe we’re overconfident. It could be that the actual goals are irrelevant. The list goes on.

But instead of the “why” behind quitting, what’s the “why” behind continuing? We should always continue to strive for healthier versions of ourselves, and since it’s only mid-January, I urge you to regroup. Vow to take care of yourself, and do that by making – and keeping – appointments with your health-care professionals.

We are reminded monthly of the different issues on which to focus: February is American Heart month, in April it’s Alcohol Awareness and Stress Awareness. September is Leukemia and Lymphoma month, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and diabetes has its place in November. That’s just to name a few. These awareness months exist for a reason: to save lives.

We live in a wonderfully medically advanced first-world nation. There is no excuse for neglecting our health. Every January 1 should begin with a renewed vow to have regular scans, exams, checkups and tests recommended for our age and sex. We are fortunate that even in our small – and some would also say remote – county, we have that technology available to us. This week’s Clark Fork Valley Hospital article is proof that top-of-the-line medical equipment and capabilities are at our fingertips. We would be remiss not to take advantage of what is so close to us.

As we settle into 2023 and the newness of the year begins to fade, I encourage you to take care of yourself and those people important to you by scheduling regular appointments, health screenings, exams and blood work. Taking care of ourselves and one another all year long means ringing in a happier, healthier 2024, so we can do it all again!

— Annie Wooden