The new year has rolled in so fast this year that it’s hard to believe it is already the end of January. I think it’s safe to say that if you blink too long, you may open your eyes somewhere in the middle of June.

That said, the beginning of any new year is a time to savour and enjoy. Yes, it’s a very busy period when you have to get back to work, school and life. However, it is also that exciting time of the year when the months ahead are full of promises and possibilities for a brighter future.

I am sure most people would agree that by the end of any – and every – year, you feel tired and worn out. The year has taken its toll on you and all the happy possibilities, which you foresaw for the year ahead, gradually disappeared as the months passed. Come December and all anyone really cares about is making it through the last few weeks of work, so you can finally take the break that you deserve. It’s Christmas time and the holidays, which also means some long-awaited relaxation to relieve your exhaustion.

And then a wonderful thing happens in January. It’s like someone pushes the reset button and we all get a fresh start. Even though time continues as it always has and we are simply moving from one month to the next, the jump from December to January is a significant one. With every end comes a new beginning…

Failures and disappointments are put aside as our hopes and dreams are renewed. We suddenly feel enthusiastic again and the things we thought we couldn’t do seem achievable now. New Year’s resolutions are made with the desire to be better people and attain our goals. There’s a sense of anticipation, optimism and ambition in the air.

As Melody Beattie said, “The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written” and there are 365 blank pages. In other words, a new year is basically the beginning of anything you want. And no matter what life has thrown at you in the past, you have the chance to start again.

So as 2019 begins, I would like to embrace all the positivity that a new year brings. I have no idea where this year will take me, but the road ahead looks bright with plans and possibilities. With the right mix of aspirations and action anything is possible – and that’s a delightful thought to remember as the year unfolds.

As Harvey Mackay said in a popular quote, “Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don’t. And believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy. They just promised it would be worth it”.

© 2019 Audrey Whyte   All Rights Reserved