In the weeks leading up to the start of 2017, social media was blown up with the typical “new year, new me” posts as well as endless rants about how 2016 was the worst year ever. With the first week of the new year in the books, I’d like to get a tally of how many people's lives have actually changed just because the date on the calendar has. I’m not going to lie and say that I have never made a heartfelt post expressing all of the goods and bads that have happened throughout any given year. A post that has thanked all of the people who have entered my life, the losers who left it, and the ones who are always there. I’m just saying that I find it ridiculous that just because a calendar year has ended and a new one has begun, people think their lives are going to magically become better.

See, the other day I had an epiphany. You can change your life if you are unhappy with it at ANY POINT IN TIME. You don’t have to wait for a fresh year to make a fresh start. Take the bull by the horns and make the revisions to your life RIGHT NOW. Leave the job you hate, get out the relationship that is making you miserable, start exercising and eating right to become a healthier you. Don’t wait until January 1st to do it, people!

I’m not bashing new year's resolutions by any means. I think that when we celebrate the new year it is a good time for people to set goals for themselves. I’m a teacher! My kids are constantly setting goals! I personally set goals for myself too, but never under the assumption that when I start writing a new date on my paper I will magically become a whole new person. Goals take time to achieve. I’m not trying to be a Negative Nancy and squander people’s hopes and dreams who are seeking a fresh start in the new year, I’m just trying to shed some light on the fact that we don’t have to wait to make the changes we want to see!