We are getting super close to entering into the New Year, and with that comes reflections on how this past year has been. To some, it was the best year of their lives, and to others, it was filled with a sense of failure. For this reason, suicide rates seem to go up at the end of the year.

The world is filled with hateful and cynical people now more than ever. People are focusing more on themselves than other people around them. Now don't get me wrong, this is a good thing because you have to take care of yourself first before you can try to help someone else, but when you're constantly selfish and never giving back and helping others, that's when there is a problem.

This coming new year, being more loving to others should be one of your goals.

We are losing more and more people to suicide and depression, and one of the reasons why is because there are sensitive people out there who feel that they are not loved and cherished. We should push ourselves to be kind to others more. You never know what a person is going through. You never know what kind of struggles they may be facing. You never know whether someone is truly happy with their life. A simple smile or hug could go such a long way for someone who feels down.

I challenge you to be kinder to people this new year, to make that part of your New Year's resolution.

Smile and hug someone when you can, listen and pay more attention to your loved ones (even if they keep talking about stuff you are uninterested in). Just seeing that you care to listen is enough.

Judge less and love more because we rise by lifting others.