Happy New Year!

I can remember this exact time last year, I had so many little items on my New Year’s resolution list that I wanted to accomplish.  Some of those things were serious, but most of them were frivolous.  I was so excited about the new year ahead and all of the great things I wanted to make happen.

A few days later, something happened that really made me see how insignificant most of those things on my resolutions list were. It made me see how self-absorbed I was.  It made me see what truly mattered and what wasn’t worth dwelling on.

It’s totally ok to set goals for yourself.  In fact, that’s a wonderful thing to help you become a better person.  However, I would encourage you to also look outward, around yourself.  Look at your friends, co-workers, family members, even the strangers you come in contact with everyday.  Are they smiling?  Are you picking up on anything different about them?  Often times we have a thought about something and then dismiss it as inconsequential or nothing to worry about.

This year I would encourage you to do these things:

Love your people.

Check on them often and ask them how they are doing.  If your gut tells you otherwise, keep checking in with them.  Encourage them.  Tell them how important they are to you.  Remind them of what makes them special and how appreciated they are.

Be merciful.  You really don’t know what someone is battling on a daily basis.

Always practice kindness, even to strangers.  Your smile may just be the one they need that day.  A kind word of encouragement goes a long way.

Yes, these are very obvious and basic things we’ve all heard before.  But sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of life that these things get pushed to the back and far down on our list of priorities.

Make looking out for others a priority this year.

I wish you a very happy and healthy New Year.