As I step outside, a cool breeze rushes towards me and gently lingers on my bare forearms as if in greeting. On my left, a bird chirps and the branches of the trees rustled as if in response. The sun is bright, its ray of light filtering through trees and warming the grass covered in mist.

Taking a deep breath, I allow the air to enter my lungs and take a moment to appreciate this simple joy.  A beautiful day.

The first day of any new year is often filled with joys, hopes and promises. An opportunity to start something fresh and new. Or perhaps it is to restart something that got lost in the craziness of life.

But before we set new goals, how many of us actually look back at the goals we set at the start of 2020, if any? Or is goal setting something that we do and when life gets in the way, we just come back and set it again? 

Did you set goals? If so, were they achieved? Perhaps it is not achieved in the way you wanted.

If you were to restart or reset your goals, what would you do differently? What are some of the ways you could be kept accountable? A friend, a group or an app? 

What were some of the things you learned about yourself? About others?

Instead of thinking about what we want to achieve this year, perhaps we could look ahead and if I was at the end of 2021, what would I have realistically achieved?

A good way of doing this is to write a letter to yourself. Seal it and don’t open until it’s Dec 31st 2021.

If goal setting isn’t your thing and you just want to survive another day, that is okay.

Many of us are just trying to survive, especially in this pandemic. Maybe you have lost your job or know of someone who did. Perhaps the goal is to bring food to the table, to find a job or simply to have the motivation to get up and go everyday. I hear you.

It’s important to embrace and acknowledge where you are at in life and keep working on yourself.

Do something that brings you joy.

Do something that challenges you.

Do something kind for yourself, for someone you care about.

Take this moment to appreciate the sun, the people in your life and the opportunities that a new day, a new year brings.