7 Maricopans Reveal Their Inspiring New Year’s Resolutions for 2025

As the year comes to a close, reflections on the past and ambitions for the future are in full swing. The end of the year often inspires many to draft plans for self-improvement or personal achievements. New Year’s resolutions, while sometimes seen as outdated, still hold significance for many in Maricopa.

We recently engaged with seven community members to hear their aspirations for 2025:

Mayor Nancy Smith, 65, Homestead

“I’ve had a successful 2½-year weight loss journey. I want to finish the goal in 2025. Professionally, I want one of the subprojects on [State Route] 347 started and news on a business park developer announced!”

Effie Gross, 80, Homestead

“My resolution for 2025 is to discipline myself to write daily on an alternative history novel about Amelia Earhart.”

Gary Groh, 62, Hidden Valley

“I’m getting used to the Hidden Valley community and going to try living a more agricultural lifestyle. I love it out there; it’s really different from city life.”

Kaylin Hansen, 16, Copper Ridge

“My New Year’s resolution is to master Moonlight Sonata, the first and third movements by Beethoven on my piano.”

Councilman Eric Goettl, 50, The Villages at Rancho El Dorado

“I typically don’t do New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I like to commit to daily incremental changes. Every day, I strive to become a better husband and father. Each week, I also focus on what I can do to increase the learner’s experience in the high school religious education classes I teach.”

Creola Danielle Brown, 56, Glennwilde

“I’m going to stay positive and I’m going to stay away from negative people.”

Katie Sandell, 43, The Lakes at Rancho El Dorado

“There’s the typical goal to get fit and lose weight. I don’t want to end up like my parents — by the time they were 45, they were having strokes. I also really want to go somewhere with the nonprofits Survivors Against Distracted Driving and Addi’s Miracle, which have already exceeded expectations.”

This diversity of goals reflects a broader trend within the community, highlighting a commitment to personal growth and service in the year ahead.