New Year- New Beginning!

“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” - C.S. Lewis 

As this year comes to a close, it is natural to reflect upon what has transpired and what is to come. It has been a long year, filled with obstacles and achievements. Looking back, it’s easy to see the high and low points, which decisions were made in haste, and which ones can be looked back on with happiness.

I have always believed that regrets are a waste, what is done and done and mistakes are simply life lessons. Looking back at 2012, there are many things I can say I have failed at, many mistakes I have made, and many poor choices.

 But as 2013 looms ahead, it is the chance for a new beginning. We can’t live in the past; we can’t dwell on what has hindered us. 2013 is an opportunity not only for a new year but a new you. Our present defines us, not our past. The choices we make and the way we feel about ourselves today are what will shape the events of tomorrow. Yes, there are some things beyond our reach and out of our control, but we can’t look at it that way. We can’t live our lives in what ifs or second guessing.

I most definitely have encountered my share of good and bad this year. I’ve faced a lot of setbacks, dealt a lot with self-doubt, and realized that I’m strong enough to handle it all. Now, it’s a fair statement for me to say I have changed a lot in 2012, for the better. Still, there are a lot of things I am striving to work on and aiming to accomplish.  Sometimes I fear that my history is destined to repeat, that the same downfalls and shortcomings that I have encountered in past years is going to come into play for the new one.

But I’ve realized that things change by choice, not by chance.  If I want a great new year, if I want to conquer my resolutions and get everything I want, I have to work for it, I have to believe I deserve it, and above all, I have to have faith. For me, it’s a tricky concept, one that has proven to unfold over time. Beyond my self-doubt, skepticism, and fear of the unknown, I believe that limits are only in the mind, and you can achieve everything with the right attitude.

Call me cheesy, but I truly believe that we all can have a great 2013. So when you’re contemplating potential New Year’s resolutions or thinking about your past decisions, I hope you’ll join me and have faith that the best is yet to come. 

Being Independent

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” - Dalai Lama XIV I am a big believer that the people who you surround yourself with are a reflection of who you are, and they can impact and influence your happiness. It is crucial in your life to have a solid support system, and to build strong and rewarding relationships.

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How You Treat Others

“Men are respectable only as they respect.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson It is so important how you feel about yourself, how you treat yourself, and how you value your integrity. But it is near impossible to achieve harmony and happiness in your life if you treat the people around you badly. The time old saying stands: Treat people the way you would want to be treated. Maybe that’s an obvious statement, but think again. It is so easy to fall into the pattern of taking out your mood on the people around you, taking your relationships for granted, or blaming everyone else for your misfortunes. We all do it at some point, usually with the people who matter most.

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Time Tells All

"Everything happens to everybody sooner or later if there is time enough."- George Bernard Shaw The one thing that I have grown to know and appreciate is that everything happens in time. Whether it is a life altering occurrence or a tricky dilemma, time has a funny way of working everything out as it’s supposed to. You can stress, you can get angry, you can think negatively and curse the gods, but what good will that do? The only thing to be done when faced with indecision, frustration, or confusion is to give you time to figure out the answers. It may seem a tedious activity to sit back and wait for the answers to come to you, but when it comes down to it, there are things beyond your control and circumstances that are bound to happen, no matter how much you wish to derail them.

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Giving Up Easily

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” - Thomas Edison I have always had a tendency to run away from obstacles or problematic situations in my life. When the going gets tough, I turn and dash in the opposite direction. Sometimes it’s not even a conscious decision to give up and walk away; it’s simply a matter of habit. When I was younger, I would sit down and admit defeat if I didn’t excel at an activity immediately, preferring to sulk in a corner than to try again.

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