Life has its’s tendencies to throw some real curve balls in your direction, especially when there are certain aspects of your life where “sacrifice” is the reoccurring theme that is shown throughout the year. Trust me when I tell you that life has hit me hard this year, and while my situation may not be the same as others; it’s good to point out that you are still alive and kicking. One of the main problems that people had throughout this year is the problem of becoming stagnant in their situation. We as individuals tend to swim in our depression, bringing more heartache and unnecessary stress to you. We are people that will always find an innovative way to make life easier. If we continue to immerse ourselves in depression, darkness, and despair, we will never get the opportunity to fully live life.

During the summer, I purchased paintball guns. During the winter, I ran every day to work; even when it was a blizzard outside. I worked on my handles and played basketball in the rain, and I recklessly took the time to cook me something I never cooked before. Now to a rational person, you would ask me why I would put myself in a position to get hurt or embarrassed.

My answer to you is… I only do what I do so I can live…

And I mean just that.

Face it, there are plenty of you that have goals, missions, and aspirations that you want to accomplish in life. Whether you like it or not, when you have a little extra time you seek to fulfill those dreams, or at least try to. And while fulfilling certain goals may not bring happiness to you, it will help establish freedom of your mind, and freedom from disappointment and embarrassment. When you relax yourself, and realize that you only have one life to life, you start to understand that sacrifices come with life. However, you also understand that the things of this world don’t follow with you when you die. Materialistic things and pleasures only grant us temporary happiness, but do not leave us fully satisfied. So before the year is up, I compiled a list of three things that can help lift your spirits when you’re feeling down.

1. Write down your goals, make no excuses, and get them done.

For this New Year, I’m going to need you to make no excuses. Get your life together and make sure that you are focused and prepared for the New Year. Have money issues? Make better spending decisions and put priorities on a list that you can refer to whenever you feel threatened. Having an increased focus will lead to better results before the sixth month, and it will mold you as a more independent individual.

2. Become more active and challenge yourself to become greater than who you currently are.

This goes without saying. You can’t see improvement without challenging yourself and pushing yourself to the limit. This also goes back to the previous subject that I touched on when I have elaborated on getting your life goals in check. Now don’t get me wrong, no one is telling you to kill yourself and push yourself to the edge; but make sure that every step that you take is manageable, and efficient. More stretching and even a little Yoga and massage will get you ready to tackle the day and conquer the daily demanding tasks ahead of you. When you feel more relaxed, stress free, and more open in life, you won’t need to take pills and pain medications in order to get you through the day. Take more fulfilling healthy meals, and educate yourself to new things so that you may tackle new obstacles.

3. Live life and never take for granted the blessings that were bestowed upon you.

When it’s all said and done, it’s your life that you are living, so make the most of it. Your life begins to take a turn for the worse when you worry about the next person and not yourself. Learn to enjoy your life with friends and family, just live in the space and enjoy each other’s company. Stay away from unwanted drama and turn off the phones and the television sets. In this tech savvy generation, we have completely lost control of our social skills, leaving relationships, business partnerships, and family in the dust. I rather see us try something new, spend some money and enjoy yourself and the people around you.

If you didn’t get anything from this, at least walk away from this conversation knowing that a true human being, is a human being that gives, invests, and help those who are in need of assistance. Together, we can all make the world a better place.