Out with the old. For good.

There's something about the ending of one segment of time and the beginning of another that seems to spark a brilliant fire in the human soul. For some, it's extinguished just as quickly as it's ignited. For others, that fire burns brightly for a period of time and then slowly fizzles into little more than the final remnants of a matchstick flame. Still, others endure. That fire that bursts suddenly into an intense blaze at the beginning of a new chapter continues to burn just as fervently as it began well into the days, minutes, and fleeting moments that follow.

It's the start of a brand new year. It's that infamous time of setting goals, making plans, and fixing our sights on bigger and better aspirations. Every year I stand at this point in time with intentions and hopes far removed from those of the year before. With every year what I want, what I need, what I understand, and what matters to me changes. My goals, then, also contrast dramatically for the upcoming year. For the last few new years, I have felt an overwhelmingly tangible sense of just how much I have changed over the course of those past twelve months. This year is no exception. On the contrary, that feeling is more prominent than ever before.

If you have been following my rants and tangents for the last six months or so, you may have picked up on a few things. Namely, you might have gathered that this year was not a necessarily effortless one. It was characterized by its own unique unceasing twists, turns, and blindsiding, sudden drops. And now that year is over. I will never have to live through any of those days ever again. That's one of the beautiful things about the past: you never have to relive it. At least, not in the literal sense. And this is where my new ambitions begin.

Much like everyone else on New Year's Day, I'm dying to get back in shape. So yes, that is on my list as well as taking care of my body and only doing things that are good for it. But that's not enough. I'm too flawed a human being to settle for just that. For the past year and especially the expanse of time within that year that ripped me to unidentifiable shreds, I have been allowing myself to reside within my past and be haunted by it. The time for that is over. I don't want to live in my past anymore, nor do I need to. It happened. I learned my lessons. I walked away from it. Now it's time to let it go. For good.

So this is my resolution: I am going to carry those lessons with me and never forget them. But I will no longer live within the confines of my past mistakes. I will break those chains. I will release those burdens. I will become brand new. That's what I want most of all. I want to be brand new.

I am really, honestly, truly ready to close the book on all of the things that have been holding me back. I'm ready for new beginnings. This past year was a year of firsts, and for that I am undeniably grateful. That is one thing I intend to continue pursuing. I want to chase dreams I have been too afraid to chase. I want to open myself up to possibilities that I have never had the courage to allow in. I want to discover those parts of myself that I have never before been able to unearth. And I want to love like I have never loved before. I don't necessarily mean "love" in the romantic sense. Although, I won't close that door either. But, mostly I mean "love" in the purest, sincerest, most humble definition of the word. I want to genuinely and actively love the people around me, regardless of who they may be or what they may have done. I want to love and appreciate all of the little things around me. I want to love and enjoy the life that I have been given, each and every moment of it. I want to love without limitations. Because I can and because I should.

This year, I'm leaving the past where it belongs. I'm moving forward, living fearlessly, loving fiercely, and dreaming bigger than I've ever allowed myself to. I'm going to do things I have never done before because I want to reach goals I have never achieved. If you want something you've never had, it only makes sense that you'll have to do things you've never done to get them, doesn't it?

So here we go. I'm allowing myself to be made new again. Now, I just have to keep this fire fueled. But I'm excited. I think this is going to be fun.

"You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you." 

-Joseph Campbell