*A New Year* guest post by Cherie

Anyone who knows anything about Cherie is quite sure to say the same thing--the girl is experienced and genuine.  I really think she can do just about anything - plus, she's just funny!  I love her "real" take on the New Year and I know you will too!

The Joy of New Year's Resolutions

"Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be." Author unknown

Your life is as positive as you make it.

Ask your self this question: Are you a person who pats yourself on the back for those things that you accomplish, or do you constantly kick yourself for what you fail to do? If you said, "yes" to the latter it is time to re-adjust your thinking. You are being too hard on yourself.

In the grand scheme of things life is one big goal, broken down into a series of smaller goals, and after that even smaller goals, etc...related to this, is the fact that everything in life has a repetitive nature. To learn, we must do things over and over and over and over. It is rare or even unheard of to master something on the first try, or even the tenth. So why do we beat ourselves up when it comes to New Year's resolutions?

Every year I make goals. I love the beginning of a new year. I list and plan and write everything down that I want to accomplish. Will I accomplish it all this year? Probably not. Will I accomplish some of it this year? Maybe. Will I look at each thing I write down and try to do a little better at each one? YES!

When you look at someone who is really good at something - a sport, an instrument, a fantastic figure, a writer, a whiz at food storage, a scriptorian. They were not born with that skill. It didn't happen in a year - It took years and years of work and goals to get to where they are.

This is the whole point. I may not accomplish my goals this year, but I will try. Every year I will keep on trying and I will get a little better at each thing, and each year I will do the same thing, with my goals, until finally, I will check off this goal or that one and I will be good at it because I have practiced it for so long. To me that is a victory!

So quit being hard on yourself, don't be afraid to set goals and work toward them. Because whether you achieve them this year, or ten years from now, you are awesome simply for working on something that will make you a better person. It is never, ever too late to try something new.

"I urge you to examine your life. Determine where you are and what you need to do to be the kind of person you want to be. Create inspiring, noble, and righteous goals that fire your imagination and create excitement in your heart. And then keep your eye on them. Work consistently towards achieving them."

--Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Life's Lessons Learned", May 2007 Ensign