Making a New Year's resolution is an age-old tradition in this country, and all are made with the best of intentions. There can be no doubt that all Americans have the opportunity to exact self-improvement and some are more compelling than others. History, however, has shown that even the most compelling New Year's resolutions last no longer than the celebration itself. We all have great aspirations for change and many promised improvements are quite commendable. But the most successful resolutions are the ones that are made to one's own self as opposed to those made to satisfy others.