It’s that time of the year again: New calendars. New journals with thought-provoking questions. And new goals to think about – or not think about.
New Year’s resolutions on Coronado can mean a lot of different things, but for some, it’s a practice of the past.
Edith Salas, a real estate broker who’s lived on the island for the past two decades, says she hasn’t really made resolutions for the last five or so years.
My focus is on the day-to-day … maintaining positivity, eating as healthy as possible and exercising.
Edith Salas
“My focus is on the day-to-day,” Salas said. “Maintaining positivity, eating as healthy as possible and exercising.”
She said she always had a hard time keeping up with her New Year’s goals and finally decided to set daily expectations of herself instead of year-long resolutions.
Salas, 49, laughingly fact-checked herself a moment later, noting that she actually tried making a resolution at the beginning of this year – to cook at least three days out of the week – but that lasted only until about April.
“Not impressive,” she added with a chuckle.
Dev Purkayastha, 77, had a similar mindset to Salas, noting that he hasn’t made a resolution for almost 20 years.
No, just be happy.Dev Purkayastha
During a walk on Orange Avenue, Purkayastha was asked if he’ll be making any vows for 2026. “No, just be happy.”
Purkayastha, an island resident since 2013, said setting goals like that can make someone continuously want something and not be content with what they have. He arrived at this conclusion through a process of elimination. He said someone can only drive one car, live in one house, be one thing, and making a goal for New Year’s could lead to being unsatisfied with what they already have.
“If it works for people, more power to you,” Purkayastha said. “But, I don’t find it necessary.”
But others see personal goals as important motivators.
Jeanne Wilcox, a part-time Coronado resident since 1989 and a full-time resident since 2018, said she’s always trying to have something that she’s working on – whether that’s a New Year’s resolution, reflections on her birthday or a daily goal she wants to accomplish.
“This year is for sure about self-care and balance,” Wilcox shared. “That’s one of the things that, as a therapist, doesn’t always happen … Even though we practice it really well with other people – not always so good at doing it ourselves.”
She’s worked as a therapist since 2007 and said she sees a lot of heavy trauma with clients who are dealing with issues such as child welfare or domestic violence victimization.
There’s a real balance, she said, that needs to be achieved in her personal life when she sees them. So, right now, she’s working on creating a schedule that doesn’t leave her working nights and filling out reports until 10 p.m.
Wilcox said she also has work-related resolutions, like figuring out how she can start up group therapy sessions on the island.
It’s about trying to really keep my list of goals that I do pretty much every day … and just trying to work on that because if we’re working on ourselves and taking care of ourselves, we’re better for everybody else.
Jeanne Wilcox
“It’s about trying to really keep my list of goals that I do pretty much every day … and just trying to work on that because if we’re working on ourselves and taking care of ourselves, we’re better for everybody else,” Wilcox said.
