So here we are again – another year down. They just seem to go faster and faster. And it’s that time of year when all those “New year New me” sayings start.  Personally – I can’t abide new years resolutions. They are in my eyes, just new ways to set yourself up for failure. Because statistics say that 90% of people don’t manage to keep their resolutions, that those 90% seem to feel a little more ok with failing at it because so many others failed too and because its almost expected.

I often wonder why humans feel the need to wait until a New Year rolls around to make a change in life? It baffles me. It truly does. It’s like those people that feel the need to eat the whole world on a cheat meal, or empty the pantry into their guts in order not to waste all the junk food that they are about to cut from their lives.

To me – new years is not a new start. If you want a new start then stop quitting at everything you do. Every day should be a step towards improving you, improving your life and making yourself and in turn those around you happy with what you already have. And if what you have isn’t enough – then work a little harder, or be a little smarter about it all and work out HOW to make it so.

Life isn’t a motivational quote. I have hidden so many people from a Facebook feed and deleted many a group email based on the fact that it’s all I see from them…

So instead of resolutions. I am throwing out some thoughts to think about. Some daily challenges per say. They have served me well in the past and I stick to them in one form or another.

Save yourself the ridiculous schedule of a “new years resolution” that will ultimately fail and starting thinking smarter. Thinking bigger and about actually getting somewhere. Make changes that will last forever.

FORGIVE – let go of grudges and hatred. You will be amazed at how free you feel. Body and mind. It’s like a weight being lifted from your shoulders. I read in a coffee shop once that holding a grudge is like letting somebody live rent free in your head. Damn straight it is. Anybody worth my disdain isn’t important, so they get no room in my noggin.

REGRET – Let go of Regret. You simply don’t need it. And I can pretty much guarantee that you could close your eyes right now and think of at least 5 things that you are grateful for, that you would not have if you had not made the decisions that you have made that have led you to this very point in your life.

If it meant losing those 5 things forever…. Would you rewind? I wouldn’t. I don’t regret a single thing. Not even the dumb stuff. The past is just that. The past. Only you can create the future you want. So do that and make it a good and happy one.

LOVE – Give love and be willing and open to receive love. Ultimately you will be treated the way that you treat others. So think and act with Kindness, respect and love in your heart. If you don’t love you – how can anybody else?

RESPECT – Respect others. Regardless of your views and beliefs. You haven’t lived their lives and they have a right, just as you do, to believe what they want, love who they want, wear what they want and be who they want without being hated or judged for it.

Don’t be so opinionated of others – Judging a person doesn’t define who they are…it defines who you are. So walk a mile in that person’s shoes before you let that first impression stay with you. Some of the most beautiful smiles hide behind painful pasts and not everybody feels the need to ask for a pity party…. what we all have in common is that we all have a story to tell. So Just. Don’t. Judge.

As your parents would have told you – if you don’t have anything nice to say – then don’t say anything at all.

INVEST – In YOU. Your health and Fitness. It truly is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Not just for you but for the people around you. Your family and your friends. Your health and well-being is an amazing thing to take care of and grow and such a terrible thing to neglect. Day in day out I hear them. The excuses. In fact I may well have heard every one under the sun. There is NO excuse not to get off your ass and do something about YOU.

SMILE – if you see somebody without one – give him or her yours. Smile and laugh every day. It will become a habit faster than you know. Crack a beaming grin to the bus driver or smile at a stranger.  Seriously lighten up – a smile could just be the tiny little ray of kindness that somebody else needs to brighten their day. In turn you can hope that they pass that kindness on.

SAY THANKYOU – more often. Ever noticed that it rarely happens with sincerity anymore? I often do things for people, not for thanks, but because I genuinely want to….and it always leaves me surprised when alot of the time, people don’t say thankyou. So take note – if somebody does something for you, gives you something, or even is just awesome. Say thankyou. Remember your manners.

ONE SMALL THING – do that every single day. One small thing.  Buy the person behind you a coffee. Hold open a door for somebody, offer up your seat with a smile. Ask somebody that doesn’t expect it how their day is going….Just be good and be kind. Today I went into a chocolate store in NYC after battling the crowds just walking to find a place where I wouldn’t be jostled and have my ribs broken. I lined up for 15 minutes to purchase 5 pieces of chocolate…. When I got to the counter, the lady there looked at me startled when I smiled and asked her how her day had been so far. She smiled at me and told me “you take those. And have a great day”…And you know what? It was the smallest gesture, but it made me happy. Such a small kindness that made me smile for hours after it happened. 

Ultimately – YOU are the only person that can change things. I believe in goals – I love goals – but you should never stop at that. Every day should be better than your last. Not just starting fresh every time the date clock ticks over a New Year. Otherwise in the end, what will you be left with? Years of failed resolutions and regrets about how rubbish 2013 was and that next year will hopefully be better.

THAT’S A WHOLE YEAR? You want to really label the whole year as rubbish? I sure as hell don’t. One day might be a bad one, but that’s ONE. One out of 356!!!! 

Anything worth doing is worth doing well – so don’t make excuses and don’t take half measures. It’s boring and ain’t nobody got time to listen to you moan about things that only you have the power to change. So get your head straight, stop whinging and start making changes.

At risk of sounding like a motivational quote I’ll summarize – love, dream big, hope, believe, be kind, smile, laugh, play, work hard, train hard, eat good food, have no regrets, forgive and have FUN and then you will find that 2014 will be epic.