This is going to be my year! - (You say to yourself, every year).

I think this writing thing comes a lot easier after a few glasses of Merlot, but let's give it a go with none. I don't know about you, but every year I say to myself, "This is going to be my year! This is it." What exactly does that mean? It's going to be YOUR year? Is it going to be the year that you finally quit smoking? You lost the weight you gained in college? You finally got out of an abusive relationship? You started your own business? You moved across the country to follow your dreams? You chopped off all your hair and just said f*k it? What exactly does "this is going to be my year" mean?

I find myself saying "this is going to be my year" usually when my birthday hits at the end of February, because I feel like there's too much pressure when January 1st rolls around. Just like that you're supposed to be a different person when you were literally chugging Jack Daniels and eating cool Ranch Doritos naked until 5 am.

Your year shouldn't be something that only comes "once a year." You should have short and long term goals that you are working on. If you had 10 goals to accomplish that month and only one was accomplished: it doesn't matter, you still did. It doesn't matter how big or small a goal is, a goal is a goal and that is something that you should be proud of. Life is a lot, and I think a lot of us put too much pressure on ourselves. But, at the time you need to grow and that will not happen without pushing yourself, being uncomfortable, and getting out of your comfort zone.

I know that a lot of us get caught up in ourselves where sometimes the last thing you want to do is work on goals and would rather just watch mindless TV, but turn the tv off, and make a list of what you want to accomplish. Start now. Not on your birthday. Not on January 1st. It can be something as simple as reading more often or spending less time on social media. Learning a new hobby. Doing something that really is good for your soul.

I think the problem with today is everyone spends so much time sitting on Facebook arguing over politics that they forget what it means to live. To live on this earth and truly find contentment. To be happy with the life that you lead.. instead of forgetting the things that really matter in life. Yourself. Body. Mind. Spirit. Your family. Friends. Sunrises. Sunsets. The smell in the air after it rains. A nice bubble bath. A cup of tea on a cold winter night...A hug from an old friend.

Nothing is going to change in your life if you continue to sit around and expect it to just happen. Every year I say to myself "this is going to be my year" and EVERY YEAR I am faced with some sort of problem. Because I'm a spiritual being having a human experience on this earth. That's why we're here. To learn. To grow. But I think we often forget what really matters in life the most, and those are the things that make life worth living. At the end of the year I find myself different, yet slightly the same that I was months prior. Believe in yourself. Don't give up no matter what trials and tribulations come your way.

Each and every one of us has a story to tell. Do you like the story that you are currently writing? If you don't, I think it's time for a new chapter. Breathe in, breathe out. You got this :).