2016 has come and come. It’s 2017’s time to shine. I, like so many other hapless souls, have made a few New Year’s resolutions. I’ve compiled a brief list so you can either a) cheer me on b) watch me fail c) laugh at my jokes. The choice is obvious.

1. Get better at failing.

I want to try something completely new and out of my comfort zone and then completely fail at it. Did someone say Nordic Skiing? Yes, I’m ready to embrace being the worst in the league. I would say “in the team” but I am half the team. I am going to look like an inebriated baby goat on skis, but I will finish. That’s all I’m asking of myself. To finish knowing I did the best I could and not care about the results.

2. Make a difference in the world.

Thankfully, this is one all set up for me. Albania here I come. I am extremely excited to travel and work with sponsors on a real world problem and come up with a real world solution. Will it be easy? No. Will I get to say my work is doing some good, somewhere, for someone tangible? Yes.

3. Be myself.

I’m still trying to figure out who I am and who I want to be. Accepting myself, the good, the bad, and the ugly is, I think, one of the keys to happiness. I will never be perfect. I will always make mistakes and say things I shouldn’t. But I can learn to let my fears go and stop trying to be someone I’m not. I’m Sarah, and that is enough.

4. Spread a little love.

I love making people laugh. There’s the laugh that’s really a choked out cough, then there’s the laugh that’s sort of slips out by accident, and then there’s the laugh that’s more of a groan. I get that one a lot. I’m sorry, I like puns. I want to be an optimistic, happy presence in other people’s lives. Get ready to be cheered. Up. On. I’m ready to bring the happy.

So, those are all the important resolutions I’ve made. I’ve also resolved to eat more chocolate, but I feel that doesn’t quite fit in with the rest. I hope this year is a great one.