JANUARY 1

New Year. New resolutions. New me. Not. I don’t want to get a new gym membership today. I don’t want to cut out red meat today. I don’t want to start off with a clean house today. Not interested.

I used to be though. January 1. New everything. But 2 days later, I’m right back to last year’s version of me. I wasn’t so bad last year. I liked me back then. I was already exercising and watching my diet. I already cleaned my house many times over. I was already a new me every day. So January 1 and I don’t gel that much anymore. I don’t put my all into her anymore.

January 1 lost her luster. Her sparkle died down. She put too much pressure on me. I mean, I like her. I’m very glad I live to see another January 1 every year. She’s cool and all. But what I can do on this day, I can sorta do any day. Every day is a do-over. Every hour is another chance to get it righter than the hour before. Every day and every hour is another chance to change. To be renewed. To make a difference.

I’m not downplaying January 1 at all. If folks need this milestone day as a day to start afresh . . . cool. Have at it. But everyday I wake up, I try again. And every night I lay down, I promise to try again the next day. I guess you can say, my January 1 lasts all year.

No matter how your motivation comes to you, or when it comes to you . . . at least it comes. At least you realize in order to illicit a change in you, and go forward into the life that you want, and a life that is destined for you by the Most High . . . you have to do something different than what you’ve been doing. Add something into your routine. Change something around. Shake something up inside of you. Press your reset button.

And if January 1 is that starting point, cool. And if you fall back into old habits a week later, remember every day is a new day and a new chance. So, don’t beat yourself up if you fall backwards. You have 365 more days to try and go forward again. So, lasso each day. Grab it. Capture it. Hold onto it. Then ride it. Ride that new you, that new dream, that new plan, that new goal. Ride it until the next January 1 comes around.

The greatest pleasure you’ll have is when you look back across the year and see how far you’ve come and how much you’ve done. You’ll see each struggle and obstacle you’ve overcome. You’ll see each heartbreak that broke your spirit but strengthened your back. You’ll see each hurdle and milestone you’ve jumped over. And you’ll be proud. So, so proud. You probably thought you didn’t have it in you, but you did. And if January 1 is your starting point, cool. Happy New Year!