I tried. I really, really tried. Well, in all honesty maybe I didn’t try that hard, but I just couldn’t help myself. The pull of the New Year and all that comes with it was just too strong to resist.

How could I, in January, not write about fresh starts, clean slates, hopes, dreams, goals and possibilities? How could I not take advantage of the one time in the whole year where practically everyone around us is talking change, resolutions and goals?

The truth is that there is something special, almost magical about the start of a new year. For some reason it entices us to reevaluate ourselves, our situations and our lives. It compels us to want more for ourselves and it allows us the opportunity to put changes into place so that we can be who we really want to be and live the life that we truly desire.

Logically though, if you think about it, is one day really so different than the next? Could you not start fresh any day of the year? If you had no calendar, would January 1st really feel so different? Would you suddenly wake up and want to kick old habits, lose weight or start a new career?

The truth is that while every day is a clean slate filled with wonderful possibilities, most of us need the start of the New Year to shake us up and force us into action. We go along in our daily lives too busy to stop and think about what we’re actually doing. Then all of a sudden a whole year has gone by and we realize that we haven’t accomplished this, didn’t get a chance to do that or perhaps we don’t like what we see.

But the start of a New Year comes along and waves its magic wand over us and we have hope. We have a whole new year in front of us to put into place all the things that we either missed in the past or want for ourselves in the future. We are awake and aware and perhaps have a new sense of purpose.

Unfortunately, for most people, the magic slowly starts to wear off. We start with great enthusiasm and intentions and day by day life starts taking its toll over us and we start to lose sight of all the wonderful dreams and desires. We get busy, we’re tired and every day becomes the same as the last.
But here’s the good news. It doesn’t have to be that way. We don’t have to let go of the magic of the New Year. We can have that magic every single day because of the simple fact that every day is a New Day. Every day can be just as profound as January 1st.

So what is it that you want this year? Do you want to look better, feel better or be healthier? Do you want to find a new job or advance in your career? Do you want to get out of your rut and put a little skip back into your step? Then don’t let the year get away from you. Make the decision to make every day a fresh start, a clean slate, a day with wonderful new possibilities and opportunities. Make the decision to make every day a New Day.