I can't remember the last time I made a New Year's resolution, but this year I'm making up for my normal lack of participation in annual commitments to better myself.

I need to.

I'm not sure why, but 2008, as great a year as it was for me personally, has left me spread pretty thin. My holiday vacation (reviewed in full, as promised, by my husband, Jack, elsewhere on this site) was a major indicator as to why I need to make resolutions this year.

As I reflect on the past year, I remember the highlights. I remember my Rotary-sponsored trip-of-a-lifetime to Korea, my first opportunity to travel abroad. I remember Lizzie's puppies, my first chance to witness the birth of anything, let alone the most adorable fuzzy-faced creatures in the world. I remember someone mistakenly thinking I was pregnant, which led to many, many early mornings at the gym, which in turn improved my health. I remember riding a walking horse for the first time, an opportunity which brought back my fondest memories of being a horse loving teen.

I remember a couple of 5K road races, barbecues, craft fairs, horse shows and all the other wonderful activities and events I visited through out the year.

I fondly remember all the wonderful Bedford County people, including my co-workers, I have met during my first full year at this paper, which has become the most fabulous place I have ever worked.

While I can't recall a time in my life when I've been more happy, there's always room for improvement.

My first resolution is a result of my recent trip to New York. Every time I'm there, as much fun as it is, I leave feeling guilty for not having spent more quality time with my mother. I always go with the best of intentions, but with friends, siblings, siblings' babies, a demanding father, aunts, aunts and more aunts, my poor sweet mother always seems to get the shaft. And that's sad, because she's the one who has always been here the most for me ... through thick and thin.

Mom, I promise to be a better daughter, and to make quality time with you a priority.

My second resolution is take my shih tzu for more walks. There's nothing my best little buddy likes better than walks -- except rides -- and that's the least I can do for the dog who greets me at the door, with a wildly wagging tail, every single day.

Lizzie, thank you for always cheering me up after my long days at work. You deserve plenty more walks, my friend.

My third resolution is to cook more. Cooking has always been therapeutic for me and recently, I have been busy, which has led to me being spoiled by dinners out way too many nights a week.

That resolution is for myself, my sanity, my health, and my husband, which leads me to my fourth resolution.

My fourth resolution is to be a better wife. Jack, I promise to stop poking so much fun at you in my columns for being from Alabama! On a more serious note, I also promise to try and be more appreciative for all the hard work you do -- even if it does take you away from home too much.

My fifth and final resolution is to try and renew my faith and commitment to God. I'll be the first to admit, I have had trouble with this recently for a variety of reasons. But resolution number five is the one I will work at first and foremost, because I know without this, none of the other resolutions will be possible.

Maybe with my resolutions, like my colleague Mary Reeves suggests in her column (also in today's paper), I will be able to make the world a better place ... in my own small, little way.

-- Sadie Fowler is a staff writer for the Times-Gazette. She can be reached at (931) 684-1200, ext. 214, or by e-mail at sfowler@t-g.com. This column is scheduled to print every Thursday.