NATCHEZ — The New Year brings new beginnings, a fresh start and a chance to make a few New Year’s resolutions to jumpstart 2012.

Some Miss-Lou folks made resolutions ranging from the always popular eat healthier and exercise more to spending more time with family and God. Those who resolved said they believe the resolutions will help them make 2012 a happier and healthier year.

Natchez residents and friends Gail Frisby and Cal Rhodes made New Year’s resolutions that they’re hoping to help each other keep.

Frisby said she wants to travel more and hopes 2012 brings new sights and new people. She said she will be kicking off her resolution next month with a trip to Memphis, Tenn., to celebrate her birthday, which is Wednesday.

Frisby said she often travels with Rhodes and other friends and family on trips. She said she hopes to see Washington, D.C., by train, Jamaica on a cruise ship, Las Vegas and a tour of Europe in the near future.

“There’s still a lot of places I want to see,” she said. “We’re going to do a lot more than we did last year.”

Rhodes’ resolution is to continue going to the gym six days a week, which she started in October to get a jumpstart on the new year. Frisby said she will make an effort to go to the gym with Rhodes as much as possible so they can support each other.

Rhodes said she also resolved to work on her patience with others. She said her motivation for keeping her resolutions will be the satisfaction of keeping a promise she made to herself.

“If I can’t keep a promise to myself, how am I supposed to keep a promise to someone else?” she said.

Rosalind Fortune of Ridgecrest said she promised herself she would lose 30 pounds by summer.

“I think having a specific number on the resolution will help me keep it, if I can stick to it,” she said.

Fortune said another motivation to get healthier will be her husband and children, who she said she wants to spend more time with this year.

Vidalia resident Tina Smithart said she wants to save money for her three daughters in 2012, so her resolution is to work extra hard at her new job at Fish Fry, which she started three weeks ago.

“I looked and looked forever,” she said. “Jobs are hard to come by, and I really need this one.”

Smithart got a head start on her resolution Monday — her off day — when she covered the shift of a fellow employee.

Husband and wife David and Pam Cobb of Natchez made a joint New Year’s resolution to work on their personal relationships with God.

The Cobbs say they will continue to regularly attend Community Chapel Church of God and participate in new events at the church.

“This year I just really want to be closer to Christ,” Pam said.

Natchez resident Teri Roddy said she made the usual eat healthier and exercise more resolutions she makes every year, but she said her No. 1 resolution is to save money.

“It’s for retirement,” she said. “I’m going to set it up as a automatic direct deposit, because if it’s out of my control, the chances are much better of me keeping the resolution.”

Teri’s husband, Walt, said he worked on his resolution of getting more organized Monday.

“I was off work, but I went into my office and organized all the papers on my desk so I could start the new year off with a clean desk,” he said.

Teri and Walt also said they made a resolution together to complete their home gym in 2012.

Teri said regardless of whether people are able to keep their New Year’s resolutions, she thinks it’s important to make at least one.

“I would rather make one and not achieve it than have no aspirations at all,” she said.