You blink and you miss it… 2012 is gone, and a new year is here. When I look at what others are saying about 2012, I notice a lot of things like “Good riddance,” and “2012 wasn’t good.” There were some moments in 2012 that weren’t particularly happy or positive, but what year has ever been only good things? The bad and the sad come with the good, this we know. For every destructive storm, there are people that show up to help out, together. For every person that left us too soon, there is a welcome addition to a family. It doesn’t mean that these moments of pain are replaced or easier to bear, but it’s a reminder that life can bring just as much joy as we let it, despite hard times.
So how do we start 2013 with an eye towards joy and fortune? How do we make sure that we’re loving as hard as we can, and living as hard as we can? In the past, my resolutions have been themed around mantras like “No Excuses” and bringing more happy into my life. This year, it’s all about love. Not just in the romantic sense, but in every sense of the word. What do I mean? Here’s a taste:
- Love my current friends in the way that they deserve, and love making new friends.
- Love my family for all that they are, no matter our past, no matter our differences. Love every moment I have with them.
- Love my job and my team, and change paths if I don’t feel it.
- Love my city and all that it has to offer.
- Love the places I travel to, and the people I travel with.
- Love my hobbies and passions, and if they don’t make me happy, find something new to love.
- Love myself — my flaws, my successes, my failures, my quirks, my body, my dreams, my growth.
- Love what the future holds, wherever it brings me, whatever I may do — and know that it will all fall into place.
- Fall in love and be loved back.
And what are some other folks resolving to do? A sampling from those who answered my question on Facebook and Twitter below; add yours in the comments!
-spending/focusing more of my time and money on experiences than material things.
–My sister adopted a policy of only making fun, achievable, non-self-pounitive resolutions, like “get more manicures.”
-Maybe I should try picking one thing, just ONE THING, throwing all my energy and brainpower behind it, and then letting the other chips fall where they may. So, to that end, my goal for 2013 (the year, not coincidentally, I turn 30) is to get published. Be it a short story in a journal, or a magazine article, or an agent signing, anything will count. The aim is to be fearless and take the next huge step toward my writing dreams.
Jenna Sauber 