As it approaches midnight on December 31, there will be an inevitable slew of posts on social media site declaring, “New year, new me!” and proclaiming that the oncoming year will bring changes of habits or lifestyles. Whether these changes are to one’s diet, relationships, goals or anything else, they are often major changes.

Something magical seems to happen every year on New Year’s Eve. While the only true change is that the Earth has completed another rotation around the Sun, we as humans seem to unanimously accept that this is a fresh, new start. “New Year’s resolutions” are created as we vow to make ourselves better human beings in the upcoming year. What’s so wrong about simply taking an opportunity to make a change for the better? Removing toxic relationships from your life, vowing to pay the gym a visit at least twice a week or to spend more time with your loved ones all seem to be pure intentions. What could possibly be bad about this idea?

Many claim, to put in bluntly, that the idea of radically changing any part of your life is just bullshit. While it is inevitably true that you cannot change all aspects of yourself overnight, many still believe that waiting until January 1 is the wrong way to go about making the change that is implied by the phrase, “New year, new me.” This belief is supported by the opinion that if any change were to occur, why wait? Why wait until the first day of the new year to improve yourself? However, what’s any different between this concept and simply waiting until Monday to start that diet that you’ve been saying you would start for the past three months? As humans, we look for excuses in all places. Whether for good or bad, these excuses can be found anywhere without having to search too hard. However, excuses for bad seem to come more readily than for good, and therefore such a momentous occasion as the beginning of a new year is plenty of an excuse to make a change for the better.

It is my belief that any time is a great time to create a positive change in one’s life, and the beginning of the new year is no different. Now is an excellent time to change yourself for the better or make yourself a promise. Even if it seems silly to want to learn more about music, to visit a city you’ve never been to or to actually eat those three meals a day, go for it. Make a promise to yourself that you will try to do whatever will enrich your life in the new year. 2017 will be the year to begin to become who you’ve always wanted to be- someone that you are proud of. It is the year to love yourself, work hard, fight through challenges and discover new things. However that may happen, it’s up to you.

So, what will you do in to create a “better you” in 2017?