Happy New Year!

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past.

~ Henry Ward Beecher

Z is for.....

Zero: If that is your answer for how many resolutions you have kept on for 2008, then sit up and read on!

Now you have done most of the work and even more than most to make sure that your New Year's Resolutions have a fair chance of succeeding. You have made a list of what you did this year and your hopes for next year. You have made a list of what your goals will need as far as steps and dates.

Now you have to see why your New Years Resolutions will fail.

Yes I know that you have always been told to again be positive and just look at succeeding in your goals but the trouble is that some time next week or next month you will hit a wall of some kind. If you are on a diet you will see cheesecake, if you are quiting smoking you will walk into a crowded smoky party, if you are looking for a better job you will hit a bit of complacency.

So what can you do to limit these possibilities of failing in your goals? The best way is to look forward at what your weaknesses are (your failures from this year maybe?) and decide ahead of time how you will handle these problems and how to avoid them.

Another great way to give you a better chance with your resolutions and goals is to have both friends and family know very well what you want to achieve as they will know how to stop you from getting in those situations that will challenge your resolve.

One last thing! I think I have really milked this subject to death but.. write down all of your goals and tape them up everywhere you need to see them. Tape up your list of goals to your computer, fridge, bathroom mirror, car dashboard, put in your wallet or purse anywhere an everywhere so that you can always be reminded of what is important to you.

Feeling Hopeful.

2008

It's the first day of a brand new year. I usually look back in retrospect on the last day of the outgoing year, but unfortunately 2007 was downright ugly and for the most part of it was not worth mentioning. Three people, whom were very dear to me, suddenly passed away; and for that my heart will bleed on slowly. My heart was broken by a man whom I was certain was my soulmate; and for that my heart still cannot heal. My best friend betrayed my trust in her, and for that I must learn to slowly forgive.

For a change, I will look towards the endless possibilities of what 2008 has to offer, I will be thankful for the wonderful friends (my unlikely pillars of strength - Aud, SY, Paul) who continue to stand by me through thick and thin, for the ones who were unexpectedly there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry (Sanj) . I am grateful for the new people who have entered my life by chance and made it somewhat bearable. To the long lost but recently reunited friends I once felt an affinity for, welcome back. It feels as if you had never left.

During the course of the year 07, I had felt somewhat schizophrenic, as if there were several versions of me in the same body, experiencing emotions that were producing different end reactions. Having drastic high-lows day in day out, I was constantly and thoroughly exhausted. Mentally, I was incapable of envisioning the light at the end of the emotional tunnel. Physically, I was just going through the motions of having some semblance of life.

But Life is truly short, and in order to lead a fulfilling life, one should break the rules ever so slightly, practise forgiveness readily, laugh uncontrollably, love unconditionally and never ever regret anything that brought a smile to your lips. So here I am, standing resolute to recollect the optimism and the spirit of life that I once possessed. I need, I must, I will! And once again, this is Chapter One.