Every year, we hear, "New Year, new me.".

And then approximately 365 days later, we are saying the exact same thing and we've done almost nothing different or taken any effort to be "new".

Let's change that. Let's not say the same thing and make the same resolutions just to be filled with the same regrets and shame 365 days later.

New Year's is coming up. But we don't have to wait for fireworks to change. We can start making changes, we can start acting differently, eating differently, exercising more, smiling more, etc. any time we want.

So start now. Find the courage and the bravery to start. Right. Now.

When you're finished reading this, go for a walk if you want to exercise more.

If you want to eat healthier, make a meal plan for the next week and go grocery shopping.

If you want to travel more, make a savings account or money jar and put whatever change you have in your pocket in there the minute you make it.

You want to take better care of yourself? Make a schedule. Set aside specific time to do what you love to do.

You want to figure out what you love to do? Find classes in your area that might push you to try new things or get better at things you're just a novice at.

But don't wait until New Years. Don't wait until you find someone to do it with you.

Don't wait for other people to set off the fireworks. YOU set of your own fireworks. Find your own inspiration, your own motivation.

Don't wait for 2019, right now is as good a time as ever.

It's so hard to move out of your comfort zone, to start things fresh an new. It's difficult and challenging to move out of what you know, and what is, to be in pursuit of something that might be.

You might feel like right now is good enough. It's the best you've ever had, but that doesn't mean it is the best that ever will be.

There are so many good things that are coming our way. Not starting the minute the clock strikes midnight. But all the time.

So starting now, let's be on the lookout for all the good and great things always surrounding us.

Let's appreciate all that we've had the opportunity to learn from this year, and all the years we've been blessed with. Some of them might have been very painful learning opportunities, some of them you might not have even known they were learning opportunities until later. And some, well, we'll still learning from them.

But how lucky are we that we get to learn and love and change and grow? Let's learn to love more, not to fear change and grow from them both.

New doesn't equal bad. It might mean scary, frightening and sometimes lonely. But new presents us with so many opportunities to change scary into brave. Frightening into courageous and lonely into befriended.

Don't wait for someone else's fireworks or a clock to strike midnight. Do that thing you've always wanted to do. And do it now. Or at least get one step closer.

If you were waiting for a sign of sorts, consider this just that.