Think back through the past year, maybe even further, and count the number of times you've muttered "maybe next time " or "I'll do it tomorrow."
Guess what? These are more often than not the same number of times that you made an empty promise to yourself.
However, a new year is upon us, and this brings with it another opportunity for people to set goals for improvements in their life, whether it be from a health, social or economic perspective.
Unfortunately, it's also a time when the people setting these goals dream a little too high and put forth unrealistic resolutions, setting the stage for the next 12 months of once again sputtering out "maybe next time " or "I'll do it tomorrow."
No, there is nothing wrong with dreaming and setting goals, it's just that one really needs to look at setting realistic ones, and then live within the reality of their lives to try and fulfill them.
People simply need to plan for tomorrow and keep things in perspective along the way, keeping in mind that most of the time the outcome of such goals isn't always controlled by yourself - factor in the outside influences when setting goals and the rate of success will increase.
Yes, whether it is family, friend or foe, these people will most often affect the final outcome of the goals you set - to what extent may depend on how much you allow them to be involved in your journey to reaching your goal.
If your goal is to lose weight, the encouragement of those around you will play an integral role in you accomplishing what you set out for yourself - do they encourage you to try this or that, no matter what the calorie count may be? Or do they order low-calorie foods when dining out they know encourages you to keep positively moving towards reaching your goal.
The choice will be yours whether or not you continue to eat with these people.
Along your journey, there will be many such learning opportunities, and that's the challenge in reaching your pinnacle.
However, there are people, who, when faced with such a challenge, take the easy route and end their journey - they are more content to stay who they are, where they are, and even how they live their lives.
Some may not even get this far in the journey, being scared to even put one foot an inch in the direction of something new.
With a new year approaching, don't be one of these people. A fresh time has emerged to jump in with both feet, taking a leap of faith, maybe with fingers crossed, to reach a new and exciting goal.
In the end, there's only one thing stopping people from getting what they want, and that's themselves.
It may seem simple, but sometimes it's not.
And that's when one must face their fears, believe in themselves that they will figure it as they go, and just do it.
Happy new year to everyone, and may the days and months ahead in 2013 bring you and yours the happiness of reaching your dreams.
– Kevin Higgins is editor of The Beacon in Gander
