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Aspen Times Weekly cover story: 2013’s resolutions from 2012 newsmakers

Amanda Charles
Aspen Times Weekly
Aspen, CO Colorado
Photo by Ted MahonCover design by Afton Groepper
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It has come to my attention that there are two types of New Year’s resolutions one chooses to make at the start of a fresh year: one of optimistic intent with full potential to come true, and the other, one of little or no meaning kept on standby just in case someone asks. The surveys say about 40 to 45 percent of us usually make New Year’s resolutions – mostly because they hold traditional importance and give us something to work toward. Still, while we often admit to being open to change and new beginnings in our everyday lives, it is somewhat disappointing to learn that in the long run we actually spend more time breaking our resolutions than making them.

Last year, the surveys also say only 8 percent of us were successful in achieving our resolutions, yet we continue to enter each year with newfound promises and goals, which begs the question, “Why?” Because maybe deep down we know a little self-improvement could do us some good, or maybe we just like to create optimism for a better tomorrow, or maybe it’s just the pressure of tradition. Either way, because it’s that time of year again, and because most of us are going to make resolutions regardless if we win or lose, I sought out some of the 2012 newsmakers in Aspen to kick off the year in a positive light. Here are their 2013 New Year’s resolutions:



“To get barreled.” – Mike Kaplan, CEO, Skico

“We live in a very dark and challenging time. Nevertheless, we are far from helpless when it comes to changing lives and giving people hope. My resolution is to work diligently with others to be a difference maker for good, for love and for God.” – Robert de Wetter, pastor, Snowmass Chapel




“I don’t have any resos yet – we just got past the end of the world.” – Mick Ireland, mayor, Aspen

“I usually do not do resolutions, mainly because like most others I never keep any of them, which leads to disappointment. I believe in living as much in today as I can, looking too far ahead is a distraction to the now. Man, I sound like Eckhart Tolle. Anyway, maybe we should make daily resolutions; they will most likely be easier to keep.” – Joe DiSalvo, sheriff, Pitkin County

“Learn to ski, learn the name of every student at AHS and lose the ‘last 10 pounds.'” – Kimberly Martin, principal, Aspen High School

“I would like to ski more, write more thank you notes and to be able to do the full splits again.” – Erin Noethen Heintz, sales and marketing director, Belly Up

“I’m hoping to climb and ski many new peaks in 2013 – in Colorado, Alaska, California and Antarctica and to do so safely and with many friends. I also want to run my first ultra- distance race, maybe a 50 miler.” – Chris Davenport, big mountain skier, Aspen

“I resolve not to serve any bluefin tuna. It is highly endangered due to overfishing, and I don’t want to be the guy to serve the last one on the planet.” – Matthew Draper, head sushi chef, Takah Sushi

“I am resolving to more frequently express my gratitude to my family, friends and coworkers for what they do for me, and to do my best, whenever possible, to make things a little better for them.” – Dan Blankenship, CEO, RFTA

“Spend more quality time with my wife, Ruthie; reconnect with the desert and mountains; travel to Italy, and lastly, research whether my great, great grandfather, Wallace “Wallis” Hatfield, a cousin of Devil Anse Hatfield, was directly involved in the infamous Hatfield and McCoy feud.”- Jack Hatfield, commissioner, Pitkin County

“I have loved the job, this town and the families and children I have been privileged to serve. My resolution is to continue to follow the sage advice of Confucius: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”‘ – John Suitor, headmaster, Aspen Country Day School