Well, it’s 2017. Another year in the books; another 365 days ahead of us. It was quite a year, both personally and globally. Amidst a trying election, a unifying Olympics in Rio despite terrifying attacks both nationally and world wide, and countless other major events, I graduated college, said goodbye to my home in the Midwest and moved to Houston, started my first job, and began building a life for myself as a young professional. It was a year filled with laughter and tears, of leaving the comfort and love of family and friends while building new relationships in a new home, and discovering who I am and a newfound independence.
So it’s now 2017. And as much as I love reflecting on and remembering the past, and even more so planning and dreaming about the future, I’ve never been one for the hype of THE NEW YEAR. Why put so much emphasis on one day? As if over night, you suddenly have the ability to change your life, be a new person, change the world. Nah. It’s no different from any other day, if you ask me. And then there’s the whole idea of New Years Eve. Partying the night away to wake up and “be the new you”—healthy, wealthy, newly revived. Um I don’t know about you, but after a night out, I’m not at the peak of my ambition. I’d rather waste the day away watching Netflix and eating whatever will soothe my hangover; not joining a cross fit club and pledging to only drink kale smoothies.
My personal belief, philosophy if you will, is that we should live our lives as if every day is New Years Day. I want to continually strive to be a healthier person, to live a balanced life, to excel in my career, to pray for and give to those in need, and to pull out my favorite childhood quote: “live, love, laugh”. As the New Years Resolutions discussion came up the other day, a friend told me he makes new years goals, not resolutions. A goal you can work towards. It doesn’t happen overnight but you can make continual progress (despite possible setbacks or lapses in focus) towards that goal. This is opposed to a resolution, which you can fail at 5 minutes into the New Year and then have no motivation to continue with this “failed” resolution.
So, as the next 365 days lay ahead of me, a vast, unforeseen and honestly somewhat intimidating time, I hope to continue on the path I’ve begun. I hope to continue making new friends while cherishing those I already hold dear, to learn and grow in my job and seek out new opportunities and mentors, to love and respect myself and others, and to take advantage of being young, healthy and free. They say your twenties is the prime of your life—here’s to making that count in 2017, each and every day.
So it’s now 2017. And as much as I love reflecting on and remembering the past, and even more so planning and dreaming about the future, I’ve never been one for the hype of THE NEW YEAR. Why put so much emphasis on one day? As if over night, you suddenly have the ability to change your life, be a new person, change the world. Nah. It’s no different from any other day, if you ask me. And then there’s the whole idea of New Years Eve. Partying the night away to wake up and “be the new you”—healthy, wealthy, newly revived. Um I don’t know about you, but after a night out, I’m not at the peak of my ambition. I’d rather waste the day away watching Netflix and eating whatever will soothe my hangover; not joining a cross fit club and pledging to only drink kale smoothies.
My personal belief, philosophy if you will, is that we should live our lives as if every day is New Years Day. I want to continually strive to be a healthier person, to live a balanced life, to excel in my career, to pray for and give to those in need, and to pull out my favorite childhood quote: “live, love, laugh”. As the New Years Resolutions discussion came up the other day, a friend told me he makes new years goals, not resolutions. A goal you can work towards. It doesn’t happen overnight but you can make continual progress (despite possible setbacks or lapses in focus) towards that goal. This is opposed to a resolution, which you can fail at 5 minutes into the New Year and then have no motivation to continue with this “failed” resolution.
So, as the next 365 days lay ahead of me, a vast, unforeseen and honestly somewhat intimidating time, I hope to continue on the path I’ve begun. I hope to continue making new friends while cherishing those I already hold dear, to learn and grow in my job and seek out new opportunities and mentors, to love and respect myself and others, and to take advantage of being young, healthy and free. They say your twenties is the prime of your life—here’s to making that count in 2017, each and every day.