We begin twenty-thirteen the way we began twenty-twelve: with hope.
We all emerge from the eve of fireworks eager for a great year. Whether we strive for great success, travel, love, passion, or just a little bit of luck, we begin twenty-thirteen the way we began twenty-twelve: with hope. In honor of the New Year, I would like to pass down three ways to make this year a year to remember.
1. Take a real risk.
I don’t mean spending thousands of dollars in Vegas or bungee jumping with a loose harness. Do something that you’re afraid to do, not because you might actually die, but because you are afraid you will fail. Sometimes the hardest things to be brave enough to try are the things that make us happiest if they do workout. The problem is, we spend more time thinking about doing these things than we do actualizing. So in twenty-thirteen, stop thinking and just do it. The worst thing that will happen is: you fail. But with failure you grow, change, and find new ideas and inspirations. The “what if” evaporates and with it, your regret. Be brave!
2. Don’t be so hard on yourself.
Take “should have” and “wish I had” out of your vocabulary. You did what you did, you are alive, and it is time to get excited for a new year. If you regret not taking time to travel last year, buy tickets. If you missed an opportunity to volunteer, start now. The point is, don’t be angry with yourself for the decisions you made last year. It is likely that the choices you regret were extremely difficult to make, and you did the best you could at that time. So let go, move forward, and accept yourself. Everything in life is easier when you give yourself a break.
3. Do something “just because.”
If you like writing, start a blog or write for a fabulous travel blog, (wink-face). If you love art, get inspired by looking at ideas for projects on Pinterest and take the time to try them! If you love music, download mix-tapes and exchange music with your friends and family. Doing things you don’t “have” to do brings joy and light to our lives. They are what separates one day from the next and drives us to keep moving when things get rough. Never stop doing what you love, especially if you aren’t being paid to do it.
If you have other ideas of how to make twenty-thirteen a better year, leave your idea in a comment below!
