2017 was an eventful year. In the past year, the fascinating eclipse occured, Starbucks created their first “magical” unicorn drink, La La Land brought everyone to tears, Frye Festival was a sham that left many people stranded on a Bahamian island, and the frightening movie “It” came out. Along with the excitement of the past year, the world also suffered some traumatizing events such as: the Las Vegas Strip Shooting at a country festival, the Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooting, the bombing at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Hurricane Irma in Florida, and many more devastating events had erupted this ‘past’ year. As you move on from 2017, reflect on what you have done to make your life and other’s lives a better place. As a whole group, reflect on what you have all done together to shape this world into a better mold compared to how it was before.
Everyone has their own goals. Goals are set to be achieved someday, and whether they are easy or difficult and short or long, goals can be achieved. It all depends on your willingness to jump obstacles, stretch your comfort zone, and suffer through whatever pain you feel in order to taste the bittersweet victory waiting for you at the finish line. Goals are fit to your standards and preferences. Of course they aren’t meant to be handed to you on a silver platter, but they should be suited for you and only you. You must find what you want to ‘better yourself’ in, and whatever that is, it is your goal. Some examples include: lose 5 pounds, have better time management, talk more and ask more questions, be more optimistic, say “hello” to one stranger everyday, eat healthier foods, exercise more often, try new things, and do not be afraid to speak up. You can make up any goal you’d like to achieve and attempt to achieve that goal for an entire year, and no one can tell you not to do so. Pick a popular new year’s resolution or make a random one up, but set your mind to it and don’t give up.
It is difficult to achieve a new year’s resolution. This is mainly because they are very difficult, long term, and usually cause a change in one’s lifestyle or daily routine. Even though it may sound easy by just reading about it, but changing the ‘way you live’ is definitely not an easy task. Take for example, your new year’s resolution is to eat healthy. Someone who wants to eat healthy has the opportunity to eat healthy at every single one of their meals. A person generally eats a breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus an occasional snack. This means that throughout your day you have 4 opportunities to eat healthy, but if you are always used to eating a certain lunch at school, for example, your mind and body will both have a difficult time trying to function while you try a new diet. This is because if you drastically alter what you tend to give your body, your body will notice and react, and this affect on you might decrease your want to achieve your new year’s resolution. But, as long as you stick with your goal, push and power through, there is no reason that you can not cross that finish line.