The Start of a New Year

                As a new year begins it is time to evaluate the past year.  Was it a good one?  What do I want to change?  Did I accomplish what I wanted?  Was I happy?  Then I take those answers and try to figure out what I want this New Year to be like and set goals accordingly.

                Sometimes I feel as if I am just coasting through life with no purpose.  As you grow up you work towards finding the right one to marry in the temple and to have a family.  But once that has been accomplished the question is asked, “Now what?”

                This year will be the year to live with a purpose and to be happy.  My goals are simple and most of them are a carryover from last year.  This year I plan to:

1.       Stay current with scrapbooking.  I will not always have something to scrap every day, but I will take time each day to evaluate where I am and scrap.

2.       Learn at least one new photography technique each month, practice it and share it.

3.       Eat healthy and exercise regularly.  I will plan healthy meals and not have food in the house that will detract from establishing healthy eating habits.  I will go to the YMCA at least five times a week and do a combination of cardio and weights.

4.       Read at least 15 books this year.

Fiction

1.       The Five People You Meet in Heaven

2.       Flashforward

3.       All the Light We Cannot See

4.       The Girl on the Train

5.       Paper Towns

Nonfiction

1.       I Am Malala

2.       The 7 Habits That Will Change Your Life Forever

3.       Unbroken

4.       Believe in What You’re Doing, Believe in Who You Are

5.       The Crossroads of Should and Must Find and Follow Your Passion

Classic

1.       The Secret Garden

2.       The Three Musketeers

3.       Oliver Twist

4.       Les Miserables

5.       The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

As the year progresses, goals will be added and goals will be modified.  This will be a good year.  This will be a year of positive change.  This will be a year of happiness.

                Lauren gave me two cute little books of quotes and inspiration for Christmas.  One of the quotes is my theme of 2016 “Think Happy, Be Happy.” 

                You are the sum of your thoughts.  Therefore, think happy and you’ll be happy.