Make It A Good Year!

Well, I hope everybody had a great Christmas!  If you don't celebrate Christmas, then I hope you had a nice "holiday"!  We can all enjoy the beautiful lights, good food, and the company of loved ones.  It's a time we can "pamper" ourselves without guilt!

With the new year only days away, it's time to reflect on this past year and think about what we can do to make the coming year even better.  As the picture states, part of the coming year's success is making the conscious decision to make it successful.  When I use the term "success", I'm not speaking financially.  I'm speaking of happiness.

To me, happiness means inner peace and a healthy mind.  So, here are a few tips for the coming year.  Remember, only a fool thinks there is no room for self-improvement!

 Let go of grudges and forgive those that have hurt us.  It's true that the best revenge is to "let it go".  Grudges only hurt the person holding them.  

Let go of regrets as well.  Don't ruin the present by regretting the past.  We all make mistakes, but as long as we learn from them we become wiser and stronger.  Our past has made us who we are today.

 Often in life, we remember the things we'd be better off forgetting, and we forget the things that we should remember.  It seems to be human nature that we easily remember events from our life that hurt us.  Just one little statement made to us as a child can linger for years.  It takes many complements to make up for one hurtful thing said.  Learn to remember the things that make you smile, and think before you speak!

Don't allow "toxic" relationships in your life.  Take charge and decide who you walk with in life.  Forgiving someone doesn't mean you have to associate with them!

Treat others as you would like to be treated.  Have concern and empathy for others.

Life can be challenging and often unfair, and we never know what will be thrown our way.  However, things won't get any better with negative thoughts and a bad attitude.  Look at one door closing as another one opening.  It really is true that if we can embrace change, the world is full of opportunity.

Find your passion ... and go for it!

Take care of your body as well ... it is your temple and it's the only one you've got!

Avoid excess in life.  Whether it is food, drink, or even exercise.  Balance is the key.

Purge!  A cluttered home is a cluttered mind.

Don't worry about what your neighbor has.  Happiness is found from within, not the latest gadget!  Some of the happiest people I've met had very little possessions.

So, "pamper" yourself by making a conscious decision to make the most of the coming new year!  I wish you all success in body, mind and spirit!