Every new year brings about lists of resolutions that have no chance of surviving past January. We all see the beginning of a new year as a way to start fresh and make improvements in our lives. We set ridiculous goals for ourselves and feel ashamed when we don’t live up to them. So this year I am going to be more realistic. I am going to focus on the things that I can change about my life and pray about the ones I cannot.

I want 2017 to be about forgiveness.

Most of the time, the thought of forgiving someone after they have hurt me, makes me sick. I don’t think that they deserve my forgiveness and I definitely don’t think they deserve to be a part of my life anymore. I realize that isn’t the way to handle these kinds of situations. However, once I have been betrayed I am looking for a way to protect myself, and “out of sight, out of mind” seems like the best option. This option is only beneficial if I am able to forgive that person first. We are told to forgive, but we do not have to forget what they did. Forgiving is the only way to truly get them “out of sight, out of mind” because if we continue to hold grudges over what has hurt us, it will always be in the back of our minds ready to captivate our emotions as soon as we see that person post something on social media. This is one of the most difficult things that I have to deal with. Forgiveness does not come easy for me. It is something that I have to pray and pray about, and I can tell you there are people in my life that I still need to forgive, and I hope that 2017 brings me that peace.

I want 2017 to be about self-discovery.

I know that for the rest of my life I will continue to figure out who I am and uncover the path that I am on, but I want to see the next few steps in my life. I want to know if I will major in English, and if I will continue on to law school, or if I will write a best-selling novel. I desperately need some direction, and I know that God won’t reveal everything to me all at once, but I pray to see what He wants me to accomplish next. I already know that 2017 will be about graduation and closing another chapter in my life. As well it will be about new beginnings as I will attend a private university in the fall and start to really focus on my degree.

I want 2017 to be about taking care of myself.

I have always thought that sounds so selfish, as we are supposed to put others over ourselves. However we cannot truly help others if we aren’t also helping ourselves. I have spent much of my life taking care of other people and looking out for their well-being, but it is truly time that I focus on my own well-being so I can figure out my next steps. It is also time that some people figure out how to take care of themselves and they cannot do that if I am aiding them through their every breath. I want to remember that it is okay to let go of some relationships. Not everyone we meet is meant to make it to the end of our lives. If you are the only one trying to salvage the relationship, it is okay to let it go. It is okay to move on without that other person. Now, if I can only take my own advice, I will be doing pretty well.

There is so much more that I want to put into this article, but I am sure by now you are waiting for me to wrap it up. I pray that everyone who reads this finds some peace this year and moves past whatever 2016 brought them. I know that is the goal I have for myself. Do not let the negativity of those who betray you dictate your own feelings about yourself. Forgive, move forward, look deep within yourself, and have a blessed year.