As January 1st rapidly approaches, it can be exciting to think about the 365 days that lie ahead. It’s like watching an engaging suspense filled movie and waiting for what is going to happen next. You’re on the edge of your seat trying to figure out the plot and wondering the next move.
Well, this isn’t a movie; this is your life. That’s good news because it means that the power to make 2014 your best year ever lies in your hands. Here are some things you can do that ensure that it is a year to remember:
Plan a Big Trip
If you wait until you have enough time and money to take a trip to exotic, foreign lands, you’ll never have enough of either. Well, at least not at the same time anyway. It always seems as if you have time and not money, or money and not time. So, don’t wait until you have both to take a trip of a lifetime because it probably won’t happen if you do.
Pick someplace on the map that you’ve always wanted to go and start researching it. See how much airfare will cost you and figure out what you’d want to see and do when you got there. Once you have an idea of how much money you’ll have to have to go, you can budget for it and make it a reality.
Set a Goal and Meet It
One of the best ways to make 2014 a year that you won’t soon forget is to set a lofty goal and actually meet it. Maybe you’ve always wanted to complete a full marathon or perhaps you have 50 pounds that you want to lose once and for all. Make this the year that it happens for you.
Set your goal and develop a plan to make it a reality. Come up with the steps that you need to take to finally achieve your goal and commit to following them. The harder the goal, the sweeter the success, so don’t be afraid to tackle something that seems larger than life. Believe in yourself and you will achieve the unachievable.
Make It the Year of “Firsts”
When it comes to doing things in life, nothing beats the first time. Whether it is a first date, first kiss, first time driving, first skydiving experience, or the first for anything else, it doesn’t matter because you won’t soon forget it. So, make 2014 the year of “firsts” and try out as many new things as you can.
Tackle a new adventure every month to keep yourself excited about the entire year. Sign up for a dance class you’ve been eyeing or try mountain climbing for the first time. Go beyond your comfort zone and you’re sure to create many memories that will keep you smiling for years to come.
Lighten Your Heart
If you’ve been carrying baggage from the past or excessively worrying about the future, you aren’t free to live your life. Your heart will feel heavy and you won’t engage in the one point in time that you can truly enjoy – the here and now.
Lighten your heart by choosing to stay in the moment and you’ll have a 2014 that is relatively stress free and pleasant to remember. Let go of past mistakes and set aside your worries of tomorrow. Live in today and you’ll have a year that is full of more smiles than tears.
Say Yes More Often
Now, this doesn’t mean that you need to put more on your plate and lengthen your already way too long to-do list. It simply means saying yes to the things that you want to do instead of giving your normal, hasty ‘no’. It also means being willing to do things you’ve never done before to see if you’d enjoy them.
The next time that someone asks you to do something, don’t say no right away. Instead, truly think about what they are offering you and see if it is something you’d be interested in. If it is, set aside your excuses and agree to do it. You may just find something that you truly enjoy.
Expand Your Skills
The more knowledge you gain, the broader your horizons become. Not only does an expanded skillset make you more suitable for better employment opportunities, but it also keeps your mind nimble and reduces the likelihood that you’ll be diagnosed with diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dimentia.
Go back to school or take some specialty classes offered at a local education related agency. Try free online courses through sites like Coursera or simply ask a friend to teach you one of their skills. Your new talent may just open some doors for you and make 2014 your year.
Try any or all of these suggestions and 2014 could be the year of all years. What do you have to lose by trying them? Nothing; absolutely nothing.
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