A New Year, A New Beginning

Nothing is predestined. The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings.
~Ralph Blum~

A new year usually means a fresh start for most of us. It affords us a clean slate on which we can evaluate our habits and make changes if we choose.  I've been thinking a lot about what I can change - or stop or start - in the new year to make life a little better for myself and my family.

One thing that I've learned through the years is that resolutions with specific goals are more likely to achieve success than the generic 'lose weight', 'exercise more', 'save money', 'quit smoking', etc.  With that in mind, this is my list of resolutions for 2013:

1. I will be more consistent in both my words and my deeds.  When I make up my mind to do a specific task or set a particular goal, then I resolve to see it through.  I will try to keep the tasks and goals to a level that will not discourage me.
2. I will make every effort to live a healthier lifestyle.  I resolve to walk everyday even if it's only for ten minutes.  I further resolve to monitor my junk food intake and to cut back when and where I can.
3. I will attempt to keep a positive attitude no matter how dark the days or what circumstances may befall me.  I resolve to fight any negativity that rears its ugly head and to replace "I can't" with "what can I do to change that to I can".
4. I will try to be more understanding of others and their situations.  I resolve to remember that everyone we know or meet has their own set of circumstances that they're struggling with and I will not make theirs worse by letting my own struggles affect how I interact with them.
5. I will endeavor to spend less impulsively and to use my money more wisely. I resolve to be a better financial manager in my personal accounts.

I honestly don't know if I'll keep all of those resolutions but I resolve to make every effort to do just that.  Oh, one more thing - I resolve to do random acts of kindness more often than I have in the past.

Yeah, 2013 is going to be a MUCH better year.