Open the book.

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.”

―Edith Lovejoy Pierce

I love the promise of a new year―a clean slate, motivation for change, joy.

That said, I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions, at least not since high school when I resolved to be a vegetarian one week per month which quickly became one day per week before it dissolved altogether. It was the spirit of that resolution that I’ve kept in my mind for all the years since, even if I didn’t practice it. Years later recalled my reasons for that (failed) resolution and the feeling of accomplishment on the days I achieved it. I haven’t eaten meat in more than three years.

That’s why I love a new year. It’s that once-a-year cosmic shove to take a hard (or soft) look at our lives and decide to spend less. Eat better. Travel more. Work harder. Dance in public. Love yourself. Love your neighbor. Take more pictures. Call your mom. Read more books. Learn a language.

So whether it sticks for a day or a week or all year long, we are given this opportunity to reflect and decide who we want to be. What a beautiful gift.