Goodbye 2011! Hello 2012

You’re doing it; I am doing it, everyone I know is doing it. It’s the end of another year and we are all reflecting. We are inching toward the end of the year and it’s difficult not to look back and take stock on the year that is just about over. It’s not been an easy year for many people. I know I am not alone when I express that I have had my struggles this past year.  Hey, we survived it and can live to tell about it, or at least I can and now it’s time to do a few things – this is how I plan to approach the New Year.

I am taking a long look at the year that past. I am analyzing what went – not so much wrong – as awry and then what I could have done to avoid some things that happened. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s the only way for me to grow and learn from my mistakes. I made some huge changes in 2011. I learned a whole heck of a lot as well – both about myself and the world around me. Sometimes it was hard when I was in the “thick” of things to see if my decisions were the right choices. I mean, I knew ultimately they were, but sometimes it’s hard to stare something in the eye and not back down. I had to do that a number of times and I’m glad I did!

After I do that, I am going to forgive myself and others for how the year went. I am no angel and I know I did and said a few things that I am not proud of. It’s time to own up to those actions. It’s also time to realize that many of the events that happened aren’t my fault and to look at the things I could have changed and the many situations I had little control over.

Then I can look forward to a brighter future! Changing the calendar to January 1 is not only a physical change but a metaphoric one as well. It means saying Adios to the old and painful stuff that happened in 2011 and hello to a happy year ahead. It means not allowing myself to live in perpetual negativity, or regret, which can sometimes be easy to do.

People, I know I am not alone in the way I am seeing things. Forget the usual New Year’s resolutions that only get broken in the first three to four weeks. Forget resolving to do this or that. Instead, join me in reflection of the good, the bad and the ugly of 2011 then let it all go and look forward to 2012 as a way to start anew.

Until next time,

Peace, love and vitamin C!