It's New Year's Eve so Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017

“So long, Farewell, Auf wiedersehen, Adieu; Adieu, Adieu to you and you and you, So long, Farewell, Au revoir, Auf wiedersehen…” line from the song “So Long” from Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music.

I'm happy to say goodbye to 2016. I mean, technically, I know it is just another day, but I love a fresh start, don't you? That's why my favorite day of the week has always been MONDAY!

Around Thanksgiving this year I had the idea to reset my life. It must have been a thing since Jami, fellow Admin in our group Hopelively, came up with the hashtag #whyweight for us to use to get back on track well before 2017 arrived.

Midway through 2016 things started to feel a little stressful. Have you ever looked back at a portion of your life and realized you just took everything a little too seriously or cared too much what other people thought? That pretty much sums up the second half of 2016.

I started taking notes concerning the changes I wanted to make. If you'd like to download my rough draft outline, it's here. I did omit one section focused on social media, but you can read it here:

“Do you like me?” What Social Media has done to us….

One topic I have discussed with my children on many occasions is that when we know better, we need to do better. I have realized, that is often easier said than done. Life can get complicated at times causing us to avoid doing the things we would like to “do better” so that we can survive. I think that is how I feel about the past half year.

Well, just like the Captain on Wall-E, “I don't wanna survive; I wanna live!” You see, there is a stark difference between simply being alive and really living life. I want to live life, and the best way to do that is to actually make an effort to make things better for myself. It also means letting go of things that are out of my control; accepting that things can't always be like they used to be. There comes a time in life when you realize it's time to stop trying to “fix it” and just chill.

“No time like the present, a thousand unforeseen circumstances may interrupt you at a future time” ~ Proverbs Exemplified, 1790

For the past several years I have noticed that New Years Resolutions are no longer hip or cool. I don't mind that since I've never been one to make many resolutions on January 1st. (I've also never been one to stay up till midnight… but with this year's Catanathon, maybe!) However, I am the first in line when it comes to setting new goals, making new plans, and continue establishing good habits.

Learning to really live life sounds silly to fun loving spontaneous people, but for freaky schedule making, routine following, planner types like myself it's not that easy. Also, living with chronic illness can certainly take the fun out of things.

Around November, when I had had enough of simply surviving. I told a friend of mine, “I made a pact with myself that I would no longer complain about the state of my mind or body unless I was actively working to make things better.” That has been key in improving my overall attitude in the last month of 2016.

Improving one's attitude is paramount to improving one's health. I have always felt that improving your health is like investing in your own future. When thinking about the goals or resolutions to set focus on ones that contribute to your sense of well-being and overall health. That is the best investment you can make.