My New Year's Resolution

My New Year’s Resolution:
        I was born on October 7, 1987. I was born with many complications and a blood clot in the right side of the brain. On the day that I was born, I was operated on to remove the blood clot. At the same time, I was very under weight. I couldn’t actually be sent home from the hospital until I reached a weight that the hospital felt was safe. Ever since I can remember I have been told that I was a miracle baby.
        Trust me; I am not saying this to get sympathy. I am simply informing the reader of the circumstances of my birth.
        Over the years I have realized that I use this time as an opportunity to reflect on who I am. I reflect on what I’ve done. Lastly, I reflect on who I want to become. While most people reflect on their life in the moments between December and January, I tend to reflect on the actual day of my birth.
        This year, a few days before my birthday, I began to reflect. My mind began searching through the catacombs of memories over the last twelve months.
I began to ask myself a multiplicity of questions:

• Am I on the track that I suppose to be on?
• Am I generally happy?
• What are my goals?
• Am I reaching for my goals at the right rate of time?
• What else does God have for me?

The natural spawn of these thoughts are a series of goals, or resolutions, which will mold me to be a better version of me.

1. Be more friendly:

I am truly thankful for the friends that I have and the friends that I’ve had in the past. I have always tried my best to be the best friend that I’m capable of being. I have always put my best effort into standing at my friends’ side. I have been fortunate enough to see my friends grow from one stage of life to another stage, even fighting through trials and tribulations.
This past year I have been through my own trials and tribulations and my true friends stood by my side, coaching me through the entire ordeal. I am very thankful for that.
    With that being said, I find that I often isolate myself from the idea of furthering my friendships with people. I realize that I can always work harder at being a better friend. This could happen in selection of ways; I could leap out of my comfort zone and meet new people, expanding my knowledge of people. This could allow me to learn to love more. Secondly, I could strengthen my relationships with the friends that I have. I could make a stronger connection with them by making a valiant effort to bond.

1. Take more opportunities:

Every day I realize that this world is full of opportunities. An opportunity is a chance, especially one that offers some kind of advantage. In reality, we live our lives in moments. We tend to fall into a specific pattern of everyday life, usually becoming mundane and boring. When the opportunity presents itself, too often we are too scared to seize that opportunity.
I often find myself looking through my memories and seeing a collection of opportunities that I refused to take advantage. Opportunities such as: dating, new job positions, new ministry outreaches, new books to read, new music to listen to, and rebuilding broken relationships.
The older I get the more I look back and see the opportunities that have passed on. Although I could dwell in the past, it is more constructive to look at the opportunities ahead of me. Opportunities such as: dating, new job positions, new ministry outreaches, new books to read, new music to listen to, and rebuilding broken relationships, and so many more new ones.

1. Be more passionate:

Passion is one of the most powerful forces in the world. When someone shows passion for a job, a project and an art it makes them nearly unstoppable in that field. Yet, for some reason we shy away from our passions to live lives of mediocre moments. For those that decide to follow their passions, the rest of the world sees them as crazy or fanatical.
What is wrong with being passionate about something?
When you find something, or someone, that you love you find yourself doing whatever it takes to share that passion with the world.
Over the years, I have realized that I carry passion in the furthest part of my heart. Yet, I am unable to share it with those around me. I have learned to share my passion and speak my passion to the world around me. Now, I must strengthen that ability and unashamedly share my passion with people, places, and things.         

1. Show more people that you care:

Similar to resolution number two (opportunities), I realize that every day I have chances to strengthen, or mend, relationships. I have single moments in time where I can show the individuals in my life that they are important to me. The question is: why am I not taking these opportunities to enhance relationships?
This goal can be reached in a multitude of different ways: it could something as simple as a small act of kindness, such as, a compliment. I could improve on this goal by keeping my eyes open for opportunities to serve people or help them with a task, or I could sincerely tell them their importance to me. I could improve on this goal by being very intentional about the activities that I engage in with certain people; along with that, I need to ensure that I am genuinely interested in what my friends say and do.        

1. Keep growing:

As anybody with kids or anybody who works with kids would know, in order to improve yourself as a person you must keep growing as an individual. As a teacher I am always encouraging my students to broaden their horizon in their interests, their friendships and so much more.
As an individual, I realize that I also need to keep growing. If you just stick with the same movies and other forms of entertainment then you soon find yourself trapped in a perpetual cycle of the mundane and boredom.
I realize that it is in my best interest to continue to grow as a teacher, a son, a brother and as a person in general. Now, I don’t need to try to fit into every box that surrounds me, yet it is health to always try new interests.