The dawn of another new year is upon us.

Within a few short days, we will close the books on 2018 and start a new chapter in 2019.

The start of a new year marks a time to reflect on what went well, and things that maybe could have gone better.

Which, of course, leads us to the promises we make to ourselves to either start doing something good or stop doing something bad.

Otherwise known as New Year’s resolutions.

Now it’s one thing to make a promise or a commitment.

But, as we all know, it’s another thing to actually stick to a stated goal.

That said, there are all kinds of resolutions to contemplate.

Some of the more common ones I hear are to lose weight, join a gym or quit smoking.

For the sake of this column, let’s think outside the box for a moment.

Instead of going with the cliché ones, suppose we were to go against the grain.

A quick search on Realbuzz.com revealed 10 alternative New Year’s resolutions.

That list, along with the skinny on each one being a possibility for Yours Truly to consider, follows.

• Get your photo taken in five interesting places (Does my home, work, car, gym and the pool room count?).

• Learn a decent party trick (Guessing my karaoke skills won’t be enough to satisfy this one).

• Break a record (Maybe this summer I’ll see how many clams by the dozen I can consume at one sitting.)

• Make a new friend a month (That’s easy; think I’ll just put in a friend request on Facebook).

• Develop a good relationship with your body (Like to think I’ve got this one figured out through my exercise habits).

• Learn something you never learned as a child (Maybe I’ll finally learn how to solve the Rubik’s Cube).

• Try a new food each week (hibachi is a possibility, sushi, not so much).

• Make the usual unusual (Perhaps I’ll wake up all giddy one of these Monday mornings!).

• Sort out a financial worry (Too bad I can’t fast forward until the time my mortgage is paid off).

• Do something nice for others every day (Does showing up and being me count?).

Perhaps after going over this list, one or more of these not-so-common resolutions may appeal to you.

If so, then I did my part in writing this column and will consider it a feather in my cap.

If not, or if you try one of these and find they don’t work, know that I’m only the messenger.

So, what’s your New Year’s resolution?