Welcoming in the New Year

Welcoming in the new year

The start of a new year often inspires me to review the past year and set new goals. It’s a great time to look back at all that I’ve done in last 12 months; goals that were met, goals that weren’t, ideas that come to fruition, and those that did not pan out as I had initially planned, unexpected turns and twists, and miracles that I could not have imagined. Even with all the excitement and enthusiasm of a new year just around the corner, there is a tinge of sadness,-- it’s the realization that time has passed and it can’t be brought back. Every year, I take that realization and begin to focus on all the things that I want in the new year. I’m reminded that my time in this life is short and precious and that I’m to do the very best I can with each moment I have been given. I get so excited in thinking about all the possibilities….they really are endless. To get jazzed up about what I want and goal setting, I go through past journals I’ve put together throughout my travels, which are a collaboration of sayings I read or hear. (Whenever I need motivation, inspiration, or just a quick kick in the pants, I’ll flip through those entries and are bound to find something that moves me.)

A few of my favorite quotes which encourage me to dream big are:

“Life has no limitations, except the ones you make.”- Les Brown

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars.”- Les Brown

“If you can dream it, then you can achieve it. You can get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.”- Zig Ziglar

“You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.”- James Allen

“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” – Yogi Berra

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson

“You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.”-Zig Ziglar

My mom frequently passes along magazine and newspaper articles she finds of individuals overcoming obstacles, which do nothing short of move me. Ever since I was young, she would share these articles with my siblings and I as encouragement and life lessons of just how powerful each person can be and what we can accomplish when we put our thoughts and energy towards it. I’m so thankful for being confronted with that knowledge at such an early age. If you still need inspiration and motivation, just watch reruns of any of the past Olympics. Time and time again, these athletes dream big, set their goals, focus their minds, strengthen their bodies, and NEVER GIVE UP! And time and time again, new medals are won and old records are broken. (FYI- I probably shed more tears watching the Olympics than watching any love story- tears of joy, of course.) I hope this will somehow encourage you to dream big everyday and know that you have the strength in you to reach your dreams.

With great anticipation...Christina

P.S. I would love to read any inspirational quotes that you would like to share, please post them in the comments area.