By now, those who have set health and fitness related resolutions are wondering whether or not they should keep going.

If the resolution was set with the intent of improving health and quality of life, then the answer should be yes.

Every year around this time, the waiting lines for machines at the gym are a little longer, the produce section at the store is a bit more picked over and the clerks at the fast food restaurants suddenly have a few less customers to cater to.

While we understand it may initially be a pain for those who have frequented the gym and health food section before the start of the resolution rush, it should be good news to all who preach a healthy lifestyle.

Certainly there’s nothing negative — aside from some waiting time — that can come from an overall healthier community. Even a little patience practice can be good for everyone.

In fact, there are plenty of benefits that can come from a healthy society.

Having healthier co-workers means less time having to worry about covering for those who aren’t always able to make it to work. That can lead to a less stressful and, consequently, more enjoyable working environment, which is good for everybody.

So before you balk at the growing number of people waiting in lines for machines at your local gym, think about what kind of a community you’d like to live in. If it’s one that considers healthy living to be more of a norm than an oddity, it might be time to turn frustration into encouragement for those around you.