Out with the old and in with the new…?

Another Year has come to an end, almost and a new one is on the brink of dawning upon us. Are we ready, prepared for the unknown? I asked myself that very same question for the past couple of years. And finally, I think, I am close to cracking this complex puzzle.

One thing that never fails to amaze me is just how much we go back on our declarations of change for the better at the dawn of every New Year. It may be that we make these statements with the best intentions at heart, but before long (as is our inherent human nature, or is it?) we tend to revert to our old habits. I should know this because I am guilty of the very same thing.

What we need to bear in mind when it comes to the making of New Year’s Resolutions, is that these are just measures, put in place (by none other that us humans) in order to aid our growth as individuals and as one family, which is precisely why we need to take these promises we make to ourselves seriously. Resolving is a conscious decision made after careful thought and analysis of self, situation or both.

I have come to realize belatedly (I might add), that happiness does not come from self-gratification, but rather from serving others. We receive greater in giving than in taking. This is a phenomenon that I believe from personal experience and trust me; it is a heady feeling to know that we have made an impact on someone’s life. There is no better feeling. Will you make your resolution this day to assist at least one person in need every day of 2011? When I say help, what rushes to the forefront of most people’s minds is probably something to do with money. But it could be something as simple as defending someone being bullied or maybe giving someone a compliment when they are feeling down and under. A lot of the time, quite a number of individuals tend to treat others abominably taking joy in making them uncomfortable. This should be the old you which is being thrown out, to usher in the new and improved you. It is universally recognized that only insecure people go to great lengths to make others feel less than stellar about themselves.

 Everyday, throughout the year, when we switch on our TV, we are connected to the rest of the world and yet there is an emotional disconnect between us and the various challenges they face. For a lot of people, it is a challenge to simply get out of bed and manage from one day to the next, and yet a lot of us who have been blessed with soo much tend to take most things for granted. This coming 2011 is the year we stand up for what’s right and make a conscious decision to be better people, unwilling to bend our morals for anything.

As the saying goes ‘time and tide waits for no man’, it is high past time we accept the fact that no one is going to hand anything over to us, and if we want something, we need to go get it and live our lives instead of barely existing or merely using other people’s talents and hard work to reap benefits that we didn’t earn ourselves. What we need to bear in mind is that success should not be defined mainly by material standards, but by the ultimate satisfaction we get from using our resources to make a difference. Make a career out of something you have a passion for. Do not just do absolutely anything just because everyone else is doing it too. That in itself is a recipe for disaster and does not bode well for the future. Disappointment inevitable sets in, followed by self depiction and the feeling of self worthlessness. With the right attitude, we can leave behind the negative and move on to something more suited to us and potentially productive and beneficial.

As humans, we are not infallible but the good thing about making mistakes is that with the right effort and suitable amount of penance, we can move from that point and hopefully not be a victim of the vicious cycle of negative repetition. This is our year and we need to take charge of our own destiny. Why try to fit in when you were born to stand out? Don’t be ordinary but aim to be extraordinary! After all, it is in our hands and in the end, we want to be able to look back on our lives and feel the pride of knowing that we did live and fought the good fight .

Never doubt your ability to accomplish all that you have set your hearts against merely existing and start living life. Let us make a promise to ourselves on this day, on the eve of the dawning New Year, to make this year the beginning of the rest and best of our lives. We owe it to ourselves to be different this time around. So have a very happy and amazingly prosperous New Year and remember, your life is what you make it so live, but LIVE RIGHT. 2011…