It’s a New Year!

I have never been one for new year’s resolutions. I’ve never really seen the point. So I realize that what I’m going to talk about next probably seems a bit counter-intuitive. The thing is, New Years is a time that is symbolically the beginning of something new (even if really, nothing particularly changes other than our calendars), which is why people make resolutions in the first place. For me, I get the same feeling at New Years that I do at the beginning of Spring, and the beginning of Fall; its a time for changes and new things. It feels full of opportunity. So this year I want to seize some of that opportunity.

I have been working my way around to this for a while actually. I’m a believer in the power of thoughts and state of mind. When my daughter was born I felt inspired to become the person that I pictured raising her, and to an extent I have. But now I feel that more is necessary – changing not just to benefit her, but to benefit myself. With a happier mother, I can only imagine that her life will be better too.

Everyone is a work in progress, but I feel like I haven’t been progressing much lately, other than a slow evolution in thought and outlook. But that slow evolution got me here, and today I read an a article that inspired me just that little bit extra (you can see it here). And in that article was a quote. I must have needed to see that right now, because it struck a chord.

“Set a goal so big that if you achieved it, it would blow your mind”

I’m not good at setting goals, and when I do, I’m even worse at following through. But this made me think – what if I had a goal that I really truly committed too, that I knew if I could accomplish would make me proud, and give me that sense that I did something worthwhile. Even if it’s just something personal.

So I sat down today and I made a list. A list of things that I would like to do right now in my life. I’m sure I will be adding to it, and I know that right now not everything is possible to achieve. Some things are work related (and since I like my work, actually things I just plain want to do) and some things are life long dreams. Some things are too vague (be more enthusiastic about things!) and some things I just plain don’t have the time and means to do right now with a full time job and a toddler. But it’s a good list, and I can look at it to remind me of where I want to be.

A couple of those goals are thrilling to think about actually doing, actually finishing. That is what the quote, and the article, inspired in me. At some point you realize that those things you’ve been dreaming about, idly playing around with in your mind, are actually things you can take real concrete steps to achieve. Sometimes you just need that nudge to open your eyes and realize that there’s nothing holding you back except yourself.

I’m not saying that I will suddenly change. But putting myself on that path is a good start. I won’t call them New Year’s resolutions, because those have become a joke, and I’ve never believed in them anyway. Big things are happening for my little family, big changes right now that make the whole thought of this next year exciting. And what better way to go into an exciting new year, than with an attitude to match?

Happy New Year! I hope it treats you well.