Happy New Year

A new year. It symbolizes so many different thoughts: out with the old, in with the new, a fresh start, putting away the past and striving for a new hope.
I know the New Year is used as a time for people to reflect on the previous year and set goals for the coming, but I personally don't like the idea of New Year's resolutions. Please don't mistake me, I am a firm believer in the power of goals, but not New Year's resolutions.
So many people set New Year's resolutions and are really good at keeping them, at least at first. But then the year moves on. Life takes over and they put their resolutions aside. And often when they forget about resolutions for a time they either decide "oh well I will try again next year" or they get discouraged and let feelings of failure creep into their minds.
No, New Year's resolutions are not effective in my experience. It takes so much more than once a year. It should be a daily resolution. Each morning we should resolve to be better than yesterday. Each night we should reflect on the what we did well and what needs improvement. Resolutions should not be something we do at New Year's. Resolutions should be a daily effort to reach our goals; a striving, through small acts to achieve great things.
Making daily resolutions allows ourselves room to grow without becoming discouraged. Taking the time to renew your resolutions each day by saying, "I may have slipped today, but tomorrow I will be better". It's okay to make mistakes. And it's okay to alter our goals if we realize they don't fit. It doesn't make you a failure. You are not a failure.
I pray that 2018 bring you joy through your struggles, and light through the darkness. Happy New Year!