A new beginning

New Years means several things to different people. Some people hate it. They dread the ending of a year and the unstoppable beginning of a new one and they remember each heartache and sorrow of each year every time the countdown begins. Some love it, and can’t wait to start the countdown. Of those people who love it, they each love New Years for several different reasons. Some just want a kiss at midnight, some want a fresh start, and some want to end a particular chapter of their life.

I believe I fall with the majority when I say that I love New Years. I love the excitement and hope for a new year. New Year’s Eve shows the wonder and joy in humanity, as the whole world comes together on this one night to celebrate with anticipation of the pending year. Each person reflects on the past year and realizes how much can change in a year, and then they tend to begin to look forward with excitement. If that much changed in 2011, then just think where you can be in 2012…(be honest..we’ve all thought this)

Expectations of where you want to be by the end of 2012 begin to be to topic of most discussions and while this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I urge you to take a moment and enjoy the wonder around you. Don’t get caught up in the countdown and looking forward to days to come. Tomorrow will have enough for you to worry about, all you can worry about is now; today. Today is all that you can do anything about.

You can’t change yesterday, and you can’t alter tomorrow, because you don’t even know if you will have a tomorrow or what it will bring. Take time to love on your family and friends. The reason I urge you to do this is really for multiple reasons, but mainly this: Remember how you are looking back at how much can change in one year? In 365 days people can: die, grow ill, move away, say things they don’t mean, push you away, or just walk out of your life without a word. I know, that seems like a downer, but I’m trying to put this in perspective. 365 days is a long time. You need to enjoy THIS day that you have with those people that you love, because 24 hours is even a long time. It may be a vapor in the span of eternity, but it is a long time in the span of our short time here. So please don’t regret a minute of it and don’t waste a second of it waiting for tomorrow. Today is here. Don’t wait for 2012 to start getting in shape; don’t wait to forgive those you need to. If there is anything that I have learned since November it's this: life is way too short to be mad at someone that you love. And please, please don’t wait to tell that person that you hurt how sorry you are.

I know that there is hurt here that can’t be fixed by band aids and new years. Time cannot even begin to heal some of the pain that you may be struggling through right now, and I know that. Only God can heal those wounds. But live each day like it is your last. I know that sounds totally cliché, but I mean it. Be spontaneous, play a joke on one of your friends, be crazy, be YOU, have fun, LAUGH, dance, be free, LOVE, and if nothing else: LIVE. STOP saying tomorrow and start saying today.