Christmas is over and that means a new year is just around the corner.

Everyone will reflect. Everyone will promise change. Everyone will put 2015 out of mind and shift their life to 2016. Everyone will pretend that this year will be different than all the rest.

So I ask you a question. Why? Why is it that when one year ends and another begins we design entire new lives, goals, qualities, and expectations for ourself that are almost impossible to accomplish.

We want to workout more, eat less, love better, spend less, save more, and not make mistakes as often. We want to essentially change who we are.

But this year, I would like to propose something different. Instead of focusing on all the things we can change in our lives or all the areas we could get "better" at, instead of doing that, can we focus on how far we came in 2015.

Make a list of all the things you never thought you'd make it through but did.

Make a list of all the mistakes and regrets you had, but instead of beating yourself up about them, learn from them. Realize that without those regrets and mistakes you probably wouldn't have come out of this year the person you are.

Make a list of all the things you're grateful for that this year has given you that this new one can't.

Whether you're going to look back on 2015 with fond memories or regretful ones, this was a year of your life. A year that you lived and breathed. A year that you touched peoples lives and people touched yours. A year where you loved either with success or with heartbreak.

But no matter what was your story, God did not forget to have you walk in His plan this past year. You've been in His story for you since January 1, 2015, the last time you swore this year would be different.

This year might not have been what you WANTED, but it was what you NEEDED.

The lessons, blessings, and skills you've learned in this season are being stored away to help you in the next.

So make goals. Reflect on who you want to be as a person this year, sure.

But don't forget about this last one. Don't write it out of your life just because the calendar changed.

Wear it around like a battle scar, because that's what it was.

Another year you made it through. Another 365 days where you were shown unthinkable amounts of mercy and grace. Don't take that lightly. Don't cast that away.

Be proud of it. Be proud of who you came out of that season as, and use it to fight through this next one.

happy 2016 everyone!