As we get to the end of each year we so anxiously hold our breaths, cursing the previous year for all its unwelcome troubles and shifting into the mindset of “this new year WILL be better!”. We all look forward to the turning of that last digit in the sequence which somehow represents a chance to start over. “When the New Year comes I’ll start my diet, focus more, be nicer, spend more time with family, make more money, get a new job, find true love”…and on and on. Numerology, the Chinese New Year, the end/beginning of our calendar year and other signposts/shifts do make it a great time to step up our game and move more toward who we’d like to be. Everyone looks forward to the ultimate absolution- the New Year. It’s as if all the wrong choices, losses, embarrassing moments, failures and sadness are all magically washed away. Add to that the other typical thing we do as humans — to selectively ignore all of the GOOD choices, gains, successes and life lessons we learned through all the ups and downs of the previous year. YAY New Year-last year sucked-I want you to make it better now!

But the reality is, as much as it is a great time to begin a new way of life, we have the choice to do that on a daily basis. Every day we wake up breathing we have hope. Just add to that –well, anything we do have. Are you in a warm bed? Do you have a job? Are you healthy? If not, can you correct that? if not, do you have available treatments? Or do you just have the time you have left to spend with family and friends who matter and will help you transition with love? No matter how you look at it-you have SOMETHING. Folks faced with life changing health challenges all seem to have one thing in common-they live in the moment. They live with that New Year’s Eve mindset. Why not live like that every day? None of us truly know how long we have anyway!

If we were to just take each day, each moment to gather up that New Year’s Eve energy throughout the year when faced with a crisis we might do things a little differently. Instead of wishing away our troubles with a magic day, what if we took ACTION to make it better-to help ourselves through the process? What if we simply said “It’s A New Year” and reflected on our behavior and what we could learn from the situation. Is it family squabble? Imagine stopping the argument and apologizing-or offering a compromise…y’know, in the spirit of the New Year and all. Relationship struggles? What are you planning to do in the New Year that will make you feel less lonely or make peace with that ex? Do that right now.

History repeats itself if we don’t evolve. You are bringing yourself and all of the same issues into the New Year and sadly, those last months of the year when we’re just holding our breath waiting for that fresh start there are big, bright, beautiful days full of hope and promise we choose to color with sadness and procrastination. Instead of wishing them away, spend the time making a huge list of your accomplishments, joyous times with loved ones, those special nights with your significant other you’ll cherish forever-look at them with gratitude for the time well spent rather than ingratitude because they or you may have moved on. Look around you every day for love and kindness from friends and strangers-NOT just those few holiday months a year. And know that you are never truly alone when you are connected to a God of your own understanding.

I wish you all the best in 2011 and beyond.