res·o·lu·tion || a firmness of purpose

Every year on New Year's Eve, so many people write inspirational Facebook statuses or send out quick tweets or selfies, enthusiastically exclaiming that "This is year is MY year!" And yes, perhaps I feel the same emotion and excitement that these zealous typers do, but in an effort to add some originality and specificity as to why exactly 2014 is my year, I'm sending out a blog post. It's up to you if you want to continue reading, but feel free to stop now. I have every reason to believe that this will turn into quite the self-evaluation. I'm even posting my New Year's resolutions, so watch out. Don't say I didn't warn you. 

2013 was an exhausting mixture of the best of times and the absolute worst of times. It's safe to assume that I welcomed 2014 with open arms and a relieved smile. As I sat and watched Ryan Seacrest narrate the dropping of the ball, a familiar nostalgia came over me and I wondered how on earth 365 days could hold so many ups and downs. Then the ball dropped and I watched people kiss each other in Times Square, couples creating a magical memories nearly identical to those of the hundreds of thousands of people surrounding them. And then I wondered if the next 365 days would be as much of a roller-coaster as the past 365 days had been, and I hoped not, and then I went to bed. 

The next day I woke up bright and early and went on a wonderful hike up a wonderful mountain with wonderful people, and I realized that 2014 could really be my year. Good years don't just happen, and neither do bad ones. It's not like the world just randomly decides to turn against you and then calls a truce once the year is up. Every year, every month, every week, every day is what you make of it. If I have a good day, it's because I chose to have a good day. If I happen to have a terrible day, chances are I had something to do with it. So, as I was happily dodging icy rocks and following a well-beaten path up a beautiful mountain on that splendid New Year's Day, I made a decision. If 2014 is going to be what I make of it, I want to make it good. A fairly simple decision, but a monumental one, given that I didn't exactly make 2013 the best of years. 

And that leads me to share with you my New Year's resolutions. If you like one of them, feel free to take it. This is just my list of what I believe that I have to do in order to make this year great. 

1. Join a writer's group
2. Read poetry
3. Drink green tea
4. Go to California
5. Volunteer at a soup kitchen
6. Keep a memory jar
7. Make a new lifelong friend
8. Read everything C.S. Lewis
9. Exercise regularly
10. Be kind
11. Go hiking (alot)
12. Learn sign language
13.  Love unconditionally 
14. Memorize 10 chapters of the Bible*

And there you have it. 2014 in a nutshell. One of my favorite qualities about myself (and I don't have many, so don't think I'm bragging by any means) is that when I make a goal, I reach that goal. I don't have any reason to believe that these resolutions will be any different. I plan to keep each and every one of them, and I'm so excited to see how the year pans out. Best of luck and much, much joy to you all in 2014! May it be the best of years for all of us. 

Love, 
Christie 
XOXO

*Romans 12 

James 1 

1 Peter 1

1 Corinthians 13 

 1 John 1 

   Philippians 2:1-18 

Philippians 3:7-20 

Ephesians 4 

 Ephesians 6:1-18

Galatians 6:1-10