Life

December 31st, 2012

Reflections.

2012 was a life-changing year: graduating high school, moving into an apartment, being crowned Miss New York, starting college, turning eighteen - all steps into adulthood.

The most important thing that I have learned is that everything happens for a reason. You can't change the past, so learn from the experiences and move on with newfound wisdom. Another lesson is that there is so much power in one person's will and mind; if you want to change something, to do something, to be something, you can... it's just mind over matter. I have truly come to believe that this year.

We always underestimate our willpower and our minds- if a Congresswoman Giffords can survive a gunshot to the head, if a young rape victim from India can muster the strength and courage to scribble notes to her family before her death, then what is stopping us from achieving our small daily goals of eating healthier, being more fit, changing our habits? Once you have the will, you will find a way.

You can find inspiration in the success of others- that is extremely motivating. But it is even more powerful when you find the inspiration within yourself- that is commendable. Be inspired by yourself: what you have accomplished, what you will accomplish, who you are. And if you can't so that just yet, that is fine, because its hard, but oh-so necessary in today's time.

I don't think that a new year calls for new resolutions, because each day should be for that. So my "new year's resolution" is to continue to strive to achieve my personal, professional, and academic goals- ones that I set every so often (whether its a new day, new semester, or new month) for myself.

So here is to a year full of learning, growing, inspiring, loving, and laughing.

"Be the change you want to see in the world."

-Gandhi

-Shelley