Fresh starts, full hearts

And just like that, we’re on the cusp of another new year. It always seems to sneak up, doesn’t it?

This is my time to pause, reflect on the year I’m leaving behind, and think about how I’d like the next 12 months to unfold. What could I have done differently? What opportunities do I want to chase—or create?

There’s something undeniably exciting about a new year. It feels like a blank page, full of potential, and for me, it’s less about “resolving” to do better and more about building on what’s already there. A chance to grow, to dream bigger, and to face forward with optimism.

Truthfully, I’m not a big believer in New Year’s resolutions. They often feel like a list of what we didn’t achieve rather than a celebration of what we did. It’s not the most uplifting way to start fresh, is it?

While some resolutions tackle big life changes—career pivots, new homes, or relationship decisions—most are smaller, like exercising more or procrastinating less. Yet, stats show that while 60% of us make resolutions, only 8% stick with them past January.

Why? Because life happens. Its unpredictability can derail even the best-laid plans. And by year’s end, those unmet resolutions pile up, leading to another cycle of fresh promises. A treadmill, not a transformation.

Maybe we need a gentler approach. Instead of crafting exhaustive to-do lists, what if we resolved to be kinder to ourselves? Change is tough, and forming new habits takes time. Why not aim for one meaningful aspiration—something we genuinely want, not what society tells us we should pursue?

As I step into 2024, I’m choosing to look back on the year I’m leaving with gratitude, celebrating what I achieved rather than lamenting what I didn’t. If I’m making resolutions, they’ll focus on possibility—spotting opportunities in what I’ve already accomplished and building from there.

Sometimes, the best way to start a new year is simply by being proud of how far we’ve come. Let’s carry that pride forward into whatever comes next.