"Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier." - Colin Powell

2017's first trend seems to be, at least so far, ragging on 2016. Yes, 2016 wasn't great, for a lot of reasons that you and I already know; 2016 hurt deeply, and often. A general sense of hopelessness prevailed at the end of last year as we half-jokingly wondered which poor celebrity 2016 would take from us next. Joking aside, though, we've been through a lot, so perhaps all the criticism is fair. But what would we be if we didn't take all the good that came with the bad?

When you're a kid, your parents tell you how your mistakes and hardships are lessons. They're lessons in gratitude, in humility, in respect. I grew up with that sentiment repeated to me time after time, and arguably, I think our parents are right. You do learn; you grow. You pick yourself back up and make of your situation what you can. You begin again.

So, what better time to pick ourselves back up and start again than the beginning of a fresh, new year?

I think the most important step to making 2017 as productive and positive as possible is to let go of last year's struggles. That's not to say we can dismiss all the things that made last year difficult; there are some conflicts that shouldn't be forgotten, and fights still to be fought. No, I'm talking about the smaller things. Personally, I struggled last year with treating myself with care, and I made a lot of mistakes. So I've made some promises to myself, and to 2017, that will make this year our best year yet.

Firstly, I promise to stay positive. You know when you start to get that attitude about things, where it seems like all you do is complain, or speak ill of someone, or be negative? Yeah, that was me last year. In 2017, I want to keep positive even when the situation isn't exactly favorable. You know when your parents tell you that if it won't matter in five years, you shouldn't work yourself up about it? You might say that's my motto for this year.

Secondly, I promise to guard my heart a little more. Sometimes, you give and give and give of yourself, and in the end, you've given your all, and all you feel is empty. This year, I won't be handing out pieces of my heart to people who don't deserve it anymore. I'm not saying to be selfish - kindness and generosity are two of the best qualities to have - but it's important to treat yourself with kindness, too, and sometimes, that means protecting yourself.

Next, I promise to reserve judgment. One sentiment I heard recently that resounded with me is that you don't know what a person is going through, or what their story is, and it's not fair to pass judgment before you really know a person. This is, again, part of staying positive - I don't think assuming the worst of people is always the best way to live.

Finally, I promise to live mindfully, thoughtfully, and purposefully. So often we glide through our lives - going through the motions - without living with mindfulness of the preciosity of each moment. Someone told me recently that it's important to take each emotion, good and bad, as a gift, and to allow yourself to feel it fully, so this year, my promise is to be aware of each joy, each sorrow, each up and down, because that's what makes us human, after all - and what a blessing it is to live.