Celebrate Newness Each Day

When the new year rolls around, inevitably, people begin to come to terms with what they have and have not accomplished throughout the previous year, and they either become depressed by it or motivated by it. Those motivated by it set New Year's resolutions and decide that, 'you know what, this year is going to be different!' We decide that this year we're going to drop that bad habit, we're going to be on time to work, we're going to get in shape, or we're going travel more. Whatever the heart's desire, New Year's is the time to make a decision to follow that dream. Or is it...

I know I'm not the only one who's made resolutions and they've fallen through faster than the stock market's dropped. I know I'm not the only one who said they were going to eat right, only to find themselves eating dessert with every meal, and having dessert snacks in between meals. I know I'm not the only one who's resolved to be on time to work, and then be late by almost two hours the first day. I can't be the only one, can I?

Well, even if I was, I'm going assume I'm not. So, what's my point, you ask? I'm not one of those people that have completely given up on the idea of New Year's resolutions, but I am one of those who thinks we should be more reflective about our lives on a more consistent basis. Instead of just once a year, why not 4 times a year? Why not ten times a year? Why not every day?

Every day? That's right, I'm more in favor of New Day resolutions than New Year resolutions. Each day when I wake up, I ask God to fulfill His purpose for me that day and to help me get past the mistakes of yesterday. After years of getting in and out of shape and realizing how painful it is to get started again after laying off for months (or years), I started understanding that for everything I want out of life, it's ridiculous to expect that if I concentrate on it at the beginning of the year, it's going to happen. Anything I really want out of life is going to take a day-by-day effort. It's a struggle learning to set goals every day, but I know now that each day is a new beginning, so each day I can improve on yesterday's failures. It's not a perfect plan, but I'm not perfect. Far from it, in fact. So, since I'm so flawed and so imperfect, it makes a lot more sense for me to refocus my life daily than yearly. At a yearly rate, I only get to make great change once every 365. But daily renewal gives me a fresh start every 24 hours.

So, don't just celebrate the New Year; celebrate each New Day. Accept the blessing that each morning brings and make the best of it. That's what I'm trying to do, and life is more beautiful for me because of it. Oh, and what was my New Day resolution today? To write this note. Be blessed and speak life.

E. Minor