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Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015
Photo courtesy of canva.com
Photo courtesy of canva.com
Guest Blogger
Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014
Photo Courtesy : christmashappynewyear.com

(https://camdenblogs.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/happy-newyear-2015-greeting-cards.jpg)Photo courtesy of Photo Courtesy : christmashappynewyear.com

I have NO idea where in the world 2014 went. I'm going to place most of that blame on having a baby. I'm pretty sure that particular life-changing event jumps the continuum at which time travels by an exponential amount. So as the dust of 2014 settles behind me, I've decided to be very pro-active about the upcoming new year. While early December has been spent eagerly checking for shipment notification emails on long awaited Christmas presents, chasing after a 9 month old who in the blink of any eye can be in another room (I am convinced she has magical powers) and turning 34, I plan on spending the latter part in a much calmer way, with hot cocoa, feet up and deep breathing. I also plan to reflect on the past twenty years. I say twenty because that is the amount of years that I feel I can truly be held accountable for my own life. I have consciously decided to do things differently and in true type A personality form, I am going to map out my assault on 2015, healthily and productively of course. Instead of throwing out the obligatory New Years resolutions I am going to be pensive and deliberate. I have made the decision to make this year be the one they will write about. And even though I have said that many times before, I feel like becoming a mother has not only given me an entirely new perspective on life, but on myself as well. I have this little one who will look up to her mommy one day.  Whether or not you had a life changing event in the past year, you could 100% still be in the frame of mind that I have found myself in. I'm pretty sure with my long list of failed mulligans each year - I've become an expert on what not to do, so in essence, what to do. Trust.

Photo Courtesy : christmashappynewyear.com

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  • One Hand Rule - I have learned over the years that more is only more. That and completely overwhelming. I can remember each New Year's eve, compiling resolutions for the next year. On college-ruled notebook paper. On each line. On the front. On the back. Whaaaaaaaa? That is not realistic at all. Not only is it not realistic but it is not fair to you. You've basically set yourself up for failure right out of the gate. I'm not saying that there are not super human individuals out there who can stick to 153 resolutions but what I am saying is that it just might be too many. Perfection is not the purpose here so keep it simple. What you can count on one hand is perfect. This means that you have a better chance of succeeding and a better chance of making them mean something.

  • Ask Yourself Important Questions - Did anything work last year? The years before? What is your overall goal? What do you want to get out of it? Why are you choosing this particular goal? That is the perfect menu of questions and they are pertinent to your success. They allow you to open your eyes to what may have gone wrong, right and everywhere in between that you can learn and grow from.

  • Have Realistic Expectations - Look at your life. Look at how things play on a day to day basis. Make sure that the goals you are setting for yourself do not conflict with your lifestyle and do not require a major dose of divine intervention to work. Also, do make sure you aren't going to put yourself in a position to come down on yourself. That is when many of us find ourselves straying from the path.

  • Be Your Own Cheerleader & Allow Yourself Some Give - Make sure to congratulate yourself if you accomplish the tiniest part of one of your goals from the get go. This is helpful in so many ways. It's that kind of positive mental attitude that will get you where you need to be. So go on,high five yourself. It's OK. But also realize that if you fall off that horse on the way up, you need to get back on. No one is perfect and you will have bad days. However, when you do, don't let them weave their way in too deep and keep you from getting back on the horse.

  • Let People In - If you can, let people in. Support is crucial. There may be goals that you can go at solo but there may be some that require the help of others and guess what? That is just fine.

I know what some of you are probably thinking. Why New Years? If you want something, you can start at any point. This is so true and I'm not saying that you can't or even shouldn't. But for a lot of us, there is something that happens when a year is ending and the magic of a new year is beginning. It's a chance. It's a possibility.  Something that we may not see on a regular day. So I say seize it. If this is what you need, take it. And let's say you are sitting down one year from today and realize that you didn't quite meet your goals, I ask you to think about it this way. Look around you. Be grateful for the year anyway. I can almost guarantee you that you laughed more, were loved more and were surrounded by many more good things than you let yourself remember. It's never too late and didn't a wise man once say, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again? Yes. Yes he did. May 2015 be your best year yet. Cheers.

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