A photo posted by Waylon Lewis (@waylonlewis) on Dec 30, 2016 at 7:35pm PST

I was about to say I hope the New Year brings you an abundance of health and happiness…but then it dawned on me how nonsensical that phrase is.

I hope you bring yourself health and happiness this year—and whatever the hell else you want.

Because let’s be honest, 2017 won’t give you the promotion, the improved health and fitness or the fulfilling relationships you want.

You will.

Or you won’t.

It all hinges on who you choose to be and what you choose to do.

Whatever it is you want this year, you’ll have to work for it. Sweat for it. Sacrifice for it. Have uncomfortable conversations for it. Face yourself and address the things you’ve previously avoided for it.

Last night, instead of getting drunk and sticking two middle fingers up to 2016 for not bringing me what I wanted, I stayed home and went over my last six months of bank statements—which, to be quite honest, could easily have been mistaken for a food diary.

It’s easy to see why I didn’t hit my 2016 savings and weight loss goals.

I took stock of the facts and figures, of where I’m at in relation to where I want to go, and for the first time since I can remember, I didn’t beat myself up for my shortcomings. I was able to observe the results of my actions and see that I had clearly acted out of alignment with what I had said I wanted. I was looking at my results with interest and compassion and not self-criticsm or harsh judgement.

I was grateful that my shortcomings were so obvious. Because now I know exactly what I need to address, change and tweak to get the results I want.

When I look back on 2016, sure I had my moments of greatness, but I certainly didn’t show up as the person I needed to be to achieve my goals with any consistency. The only thing I did consistently last year was show up to my favourite cafe.

But that’s okay. What’s done is done. No use encumbering myself with yesterday’s nonsense.

It has been said that New Year’s Day is every man’s birthday.

We’re gifted with 365 blank pages on which to write whatever we choose.

I hope you choose to write yourself one hell of an adventure, filled with all the experiences and treasures you can dream up. I hope you choose to be courageous, kind and to believe you are a lucky person.

Because with the right beliefs and a lot of hard work, 2017 can be the year you give yourself whatever you want. Here’s to you, kid.

 

~

Author: Laura Forbes 

Image: Instagram @waylonlewis

Editor: Ashleigh Hitchcock