A new beginning

Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve is my least favorite holiday. I think it is a combination of my high expectations and actual low returns. I always imagine this perfect New Year's Eve, and it always seems to disappoint. I was really dreading the day this year. I tried to go in with almost no expectations so I wouldn't again be disappointed.. My only request was to bring back a tradition from my days in high school: breakfast at midnight. I find it odd that we celebrate the end of a year with fireworks at midnight, and then nothing. It is rather anti-climactic. Going to breakfast with my friends at midnight seems to start the year off right, and it did not disappoint. And really, starting the new year is more important than ending the old one.

So, as I start my new year, I've been thinking a lot about resolutions, goals, progression, those types of new years things. Through various discussions I have realized that my past goals have been mostly about what I should do, rather than what I should be. So, my new years resolutions have become more aspirations. Not what I resolve to do, but what I aspire to be:

• I want to be punctual.
• I want to be a good friend, sister, daughter, aunt, etc.
• I want to be healthy.
• I want to be in tune with God.

Of course I have set smaller goals of things to do to help meet these aspirations, but I want these aspirations to dictate my actions for 2014.

And while I am severely lacking in many of these ways, I can change. I can be anything, despite my old self, through the power of Christ.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Now, let it commence. Happy New Year, new me and new you!