This past year has been an incredible year of understanding health, fitness and nutritional choices for me. Now, here we are facing a new year and the upcoming year will be equally amazing in the health and fitness world.

This last year I covered running, walking, multisport disciplines, paddle boarding, yoga, nutrition, meditation and much more. Many of you have had great input and hundreds of questions. Through all this, there has been a common theme coming from readers, friends and family. The common connection is the desire to bring more health and happiness into our lives.

As we plan for the coming year and make those annual resolutions for improving our health and fitness, I think it is important to remember that we are not only helping ourselves, but it has a wonderful effect on those around us.

I am sure we have all had someone close to us notice improved health changes in us and then they say, you look great or have you lost weight.

They may see you eating healthy whole foods or perhaps you have friends over for dinner and you serve an extremely healthy dish and they just love it. All these positive encounters have an effect on others.

I noticed early on with my own health and fitness that what I was doing was having a positive effect on those closest to me. Then as I started writing this health and fitness column, it became even more apparent that I was having a positive impact on a wider group of people.

This positive effect we have on others was driven home for me in a wonderful encounter I had just before Christmas.

I had written "8 Questions Diet and Exercise for Santa Claus" and I was out at one of my favorite places getting mocha when an elderly man approached me.

This man politely asked if I was the guy who wrote that interview with Santa article? I replied yes and wondered where this was headed.

The elderly man then thanked me, saying it gave him a very good laugh. He went on to say there hasn't been much to laugh about this holiday season.

His final comment to me as he started to walk away was "I guess if Santa can get a little exercise maybe I should consider it."

These brief interactions always hit me in a profound way and when I have those busy days where thoughts of discontinuing my column or slowing down on my health and fitness pop into my head, I remember each one and stay very committed to advocating health, nutrition and fitness.

In the coming year as you think about making those New Year's resolutions to start eating healthy or taking your fitness more seriously, remember you're not only helping yourself, but you're also having an influence on the people around you.

I wish you all a very happy New Year filled with health, happiness and blessings of great nutrition and awesome fitness achievement.

Judd Jones is a director for the Hagadone Corp.