Another Year Over

A new one just begun.

We put such faith in the start of a new year. We count on new beginnings, on making changes, on hope. It’s a funny old tradition, celebrating the New Year, but makes sense, right? At least according to the calendar, it’s a brand-new start.

Really, though, every day is a brand-new start. Each day we wake up and see the sun is a chance to alter a behavior, set another goal, share love, start a project, determine to make a difference in the days ahead. Live.

Actually, we could do the same thing in the middle of any moment, anytime. But there’s a certain significance, a relevance to making changes in our lives when something starts. A day, a month, a new year.

My goals are not set in stone. It’s been many years since I made New Year’s Resolutions. To me, it felt like failure if I didn’t achieve what I resolved to do. So, my resolution has been No Resolutions. Instead, I take every day as a chance and a challenge for change, for trying something new, for setting a goal for the week, the month, that day. For altering a mindset. For making decisions. For living life.

I anticipate continuing my traditions of daily, weekly, monthly goals. It’s worked for me so far, not looking to the year ahead to alter my life, but in smaller increments, bites I can handle and achieve. I have calendars (yes, physical, paper calendars) where I mark down the plans I have for the days ahead (one for everyday plans and one for my writing goals). Lists, too. You’ll see them hanging on my fridge any time you stop by my house. That’s not to say I expect anyone else anywhere anytime to do the same. However, this is what works for me.

So, to wrap up my post, happy New Year to all of you. I wish you the best. Lives filled with love, family, friendships, neighbors, strangers. Lives marked by good health, graced with hope and positivity, gentleness and forgiveness.

However, more specifically I wish to say–

Happy New Day!