2019: New year, new chances

As we bid adieu to 2018 and welcome a new year, it's exciting to consider all the fresh, wonderful possibilities that await us.

Whether you aim to lose weight, start a business, have a child with your partner, buy a new home, or simply read the slew of books collecting dust on your shelf, a new year affords us the opportunity to assess our goals and work toward them in earnest.

And what better day to get cracking than on January 1? A new year means a clean slate -- a blank canvas waiting to be filled with your lines and splashes of color. While we're at it, why not make it into a masterpiece?

Having a great year necessitates keeping oneself focused on the present.

Resist the nagging urge to reflect on what you didn't accomplish or did wrong last year. Move on and focus solely on the ways you can make 2019 infinitely better than 2018.

Aim for progress. Rather than comparing yourself to your peers, compare yourself to the person you were on December 31, 2017 and ask yourself the following questions:

In what ways can I improve myself and, more broadly, my life -- whether physically, mentally, or emotionally?

Which people earned my trust this past year, and who did not? Whom should I aim to cultivate a better relationship with?

In what ways can I improve my finances? Should I look to find a better job, or is it just a matter of cutting back on certain things (e.g., eating out)?

How often did I refrain from sweating the small stuff?

Did I hold back from pursuing certain goals because I was afraid of failure and/or reluctant to come out of my comfort zone?

Did I take the time to appreciate the things and people I hold near and dear to my heart, or was I heavily preoccupied with acquiring new stuff?

Don't permit past mistakes to obstruct your path. As long as you believe in and show compassion toward yourself, you can achieve anything you set your heart and mind to doing.

Pretend to corral remnants of negativity in the air, wrap them into an imaginary ball, and toss it into the garbage bin.

I'm here to tell you that you can -- you will -- achieve great things in 2019. But don't rest on your laurels. Go out there and grab every opportunity to enhance your life you possibly can.

And if the naysayers say you can't achieve your goals, or they try to have their negative vibes rub off on you, kick them to the curb!

2019 should be synonymous with hope, change, growth, happiness, and positivity. Make every moment count. Infuse the year with variety, spontaneity, laughs, and spectacular new experiences you'll never forget.

As musician Brad Paisley said, "Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one."

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for reading, commenting on, and sharing my posts this year. I look forward to providing you with even more engaging content -- one of my top goals -- in 2019.

And I'd like to wish you and your family a wonderful New Year. Cheers!

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