Wednesday, Oct. 5 — If you are a marathon runner, October can be a month in which goals are met, dreams come true and memories are made.

Monday, Dec. 5 — The holiday season can be a time of contradiction. Thanksgiving Day brings with it the official start of the holiday season, a time traditionally set aside for counting our abundant blessings. The following day, Black Friday, ushers in the season of giving and receiving. I don’t mean to come off as cynical, but in the course of 24 hours we go from giving thanks to wishing for more.

Friday, Nov. 4 — I watched a friend run the Detroit Marathon a few weeks ago with friends. We set up camp at the 8.5-mile mark. Our friend greeted us, having completed a third of her distance, with an energetic smile and a hug for everyone. After this, we went to mile 26 to watch the first runners come in. It was thrilling to see the leaders finish, and I imagined the pride they must be feeling. After watching the first five runners make the final turn, we went to the halfway mark to cheer our friend. She greeted us with the same exuberance, looking as if she could run all day.

Achieving our resolutions relies heavily on the commitment, focus and resolve of us as individuals. Beyond this individual drive however, many have mental, physical and spiritual help from others in achieving their desired outcomes.