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Yes, it is that time of the year. That time of the year when we look back over the last twelve months and reflect on what we have done, haven’t done, should have done, thought about doing and how much we have actually accomplished through it all.

Some of the questions that I began to ponder are: Am I better off at the end of the year than I was at the beginning? Did I have something I was sure I wanted to get done, but it didn’t seem as important as the year went on? Are my goals for this upcoming year higher or lower than the prior? After all of the highs, lows, trials and tribulations of the year; am I a better person? These are the sort of thoughts that travel through my mind as I welcome a new year of life.

Now is the time that when we are having dinner with friends and family or speaking to someone on the phone, where that age old question comes up, “So, what is your New Year resolution?”

Resolution is defined as: The act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.

We all seem to have become professionals at the resolving or determining what it is that we would like to spend a little more energy on. However, it’s the course of action, method part that often gets a little messy for us. We may have the desire to increase the amount of money in our bank account, improve our overall physical health, meet new energized people or even travel somewhere that we have never been before.

Be that as it may, we probably spent a gigantic chunk of our money or credit on the holidays, ate too much ice cream in the summer and too many starches in the winter, have not ventured outside of our immediate circle, or even know that a travel agent is right in our community.

In order to make the desires of our heart come into fruition we must not wait for a check to fall out of the sky or for opportunities to come and knock at our front door. We have to seek the desires of our heart. To seek is to search, pursue and grasp that which will bring joy and comfort to our lives.

To our lovely seniors, your life is yet full of possibilities, you can still do something you always wanted to do or go somewhere you always wanted to go.

To our brilliant young people, stop saying you are bored! You have your youthfulness, energy and creativity right before you. Don’t let the boundaries of your communities, friendships or fears stop you from exploring life.

To all the driven in between, the world is yours. The seniors have passed it to you. The youth are relying on you. You must work hard to stay positive, motivated and eager to improve the quality of life yourselves and others.

So as we are all setting our New Year resolutions and goals, no matter our age or season in life, we mustn’t be afraid to first imagine what we would like our life to look like and then not be afraid to be our own illustrator or craftsperson to bring it to reality.

One half of knowing what you want is, knowing what you must give up before you get it. ~Sidney Howard

Ayeshah Bulls is a freelance writer and the author of Stripped, published in 2008. She is a Northsider, active volunteer and currently attends Carlow University for Psychology. She hopes her column promotes hope and the will to progress on the Northside.