Did you know that the first New Year's celebration dates back 4,000 years? It was none other than Julius Caesar, the emperor of Rome, who was the first to declare January 1st a national holiday. He named the month after Janus, the Roman god of gates and doors. Janus had two faces: one looking forward, and the other looking back. Caesar felt that a month named after this god would be appropriate, and that's how "January" came to be. There's no denying that when it comes to holidays celebrated the same day in many parts of the world, New Year's is high on the list. It must mean something that we get the day off (at least in the U.S.), right? No matter where you are, here's to a Happy New Year for all!

Happiness -- that's what! And let's add love, health, peace, and a sense of accomplishment from meeting one or more goals! I don't know about you, but I get the feeling it's going to be a fantastic year for all of us. Having that materialize starts with keeping a positive mindset. The more you believe that great things are in store, the more likely that is to come to fruition. Whether you aim to lose weight, start a family, or get a new job, I wish you only the best in achieving your goals. If you ever need advice or encouragement, please feel free to reach out to me. Or, you can ask questions of other fellow readers. Without a doubt, every visitor to the blog is always willing to lend a helping hand. I want to thank each and every one of you who's read and/or commented on my posts for your valuable contributions to this blog. Thanks to your unending support, the site garnered a record number of views and comments this year. It's your insightful co...

Rather than harping on the past, look to the future. A new year -- one full of fresh, exciting possibilities -- looms ahead. Don't fixate on the things you didn't accomplish this year -- focus on the ones you will achieve in 2017. If you came across a few forks in the road in 2016, aim to work even harder in the coming months toward meeting -- or surpassing -- your goals, whether it's losing 20 pounds, going on 20 dates, or visiting 20 cities. Build on your mistakes rather than ruminate on them. Even the most famous people in history -- from Michael Jordan to Thomas Edison -- failed on numerous occasions before hitting it big. If life knocks you down, show it the true meaning of perseverance by getting up again and trying three times harder! The promise of achieving great new things in our lives certainly keeps it interesting. If we had nothing to strive for, our lives would forever remain in a holding pattern. If there's nothing to challenge us, we're...

The word of the day is one most people have seldom heard or used:  sycophant . According to dictionary.com, a sycophant is a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage. Here's yet another definition I came across on the internet: a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite. In other words, it's someone who kisses up to other people in order to get ahead. How many sycophants have most of us come across in the workplace? Plenty! There's a myriad of synonyms for the word sycophant, including suck-up, yes-man, lackey, toady, lick-spittle, doormat, and brown-noser. There's no question that sycophants have no respect for themselves; they're willing to be putty in someone else's hands so long as they get what they want in the end. Why not try to progress in life by virtue of hard work and merit? I don't know about you, but I refuse to stoop that low. Had you ever come across the word sycophant before readi...

We all know that coffee serves as a central nervous system stimulant. Aside from boosting awareness, it can actually improve your mood. What's more, various studies have established a link between caffeine consumption and a reduced depression risk -- not to mention an even lower risk of suicide. I've always thought of coffee as essential to getting a nice jolt in the morning, but I never figured it offered so many health benefits. It'd be interesting to see if psychiatrists and others who treat depression sufferers advise their clients to drink a cup of joe in the morning.  I have found that when I'm really sleep, coffee does little to wake me up. I guess I'll now have to assess whether it has any effect on my mood. Did you know that coffee could be this beneficial to your health?

Would you care as much about what people think of you if I told you that people, in the grand scheme of things, don't think of you as much as you think they do? That goes for all of us. In general, human beings are very self-conscious. We assume people are looking at or talking about us when they're really not. We presume they're thinking about what we're eating or wearing when that may not be the case. Let's face it: people have more than enough to occupy their mind. From our jobs to kids to bills, we have more important fish to fry than other's dressing and eating habits. Mind you, there are people -- we see them in the workplace all the time -- who do expatiate on such topics, but it's the exception rather than the rule. There's nothing wrong with caring about how you come across to others, but some people take it to an extreme. They spend beyond their means to buy the most expensive clothes, jewelry, and cars in hopes of impressing othe...

On this day in 1776, during the American Revolution, General George Washington crosses the Delaware River with over 5,000 troops in hopes of surprising a Hessian force celebrating Christmas at their winter quarters in Trenton, New Jersey. The unorthodox attack followed several months of decisive defeats for Washington’s army that had resulted in the loss of New York City and other strategic points in the region. At about 11 p.m. on Christmas, Washington’s army began its crossing of the half-frozen river at three locations. The 2,400 soldiers led by Washington successfully braved the icy and freezing river and reached the New Jersey side of the Delaware right before dawn. The other two divisions, comprised of approximately 3,000 men and crucial artillery, was unable to reach the meeting point at the designated time. At approximately 8 a.m. on the morning of December 26, Washington’s remaining force, separated into two columns, reached the outskirts of Trenton and descended upon th...