Here are my wishes for the New Year:

I wish that in January, everyone reading this will do at least one thing to help another person without expecting anything in return. Let someone have that parking space close to the entrance. Give someone who is needy some food. Give an old coat to someone who is cold and can’t afford a coat.

I wish that in January, everyone reading this will just let someone else “win.” So often we have meaningless “battles” over things that are totally unimportant. Let someone else win and have a salad instead of a burger. Let someone else win and watch his TV show instead of your TV show. Let someone else have the arm of the theater seat.

I wish that in January, everyone reading this will remember that when it comes to flamewars on the internet (you know, useless posts screaming at each other that accomplish nothing) it takes two people (minimum) to have such a war. Remember, it’s just pixels on a screen. For once, if someone posts something you don’t like, ignore it. There can’t be a flamewar if there aren’t two warring sides.

I wish that in January, everyone reading this will remember, just once, that being different doesn’t mean being wrong. Someone who disagrees with you doesn’t make you or the other person necessary right or wrong, it just means that you’re seeing things differently.

I wish that in the coming year, everyone reading this will do just one thing to improve their own health. That’s a bit more of a complicated wish because by this I mean doing one thing for the health of your body, one thing for the health of your mind, and one thing for the health of your spirit.

I wish that in January, everyone reading this will make up their mind to forgive just one action made by one person that happened at least several months ago. I’m not saying forget what happened—that would be foolish. I’m saying forgive what happened and move on.

Similarly, I wish that in January, everyone reading this will forgive themselves for one thing they did and for which you are still blaming/punishing yourself. It happened. Deal with it. Forgive yourself. Move on.

I wish that in January, everyone reading this will try something new. Expand your horizons! Learn to play a new musical instrument. Read a book on a topic you’ve never studied before. Take a class in something you’ve never done before.

Finally, I wish that in January, everyone reading this will begin to focus on what they want to achieve in the coming year rather than on what they haven’t achieved in their lives. Looking back on what you haven’t done will only keep you, well, back. Looking forward is where your future can be.

Happy New Year
and Best Wishes,
Everyone!

What are your wishes for the coming year?

Oh, and if you received any money during the holidays,
I wouldn’t mind if you bought some of my books available here and here.
Give some to your friends.
Give some to your enemies
Maybe, if you give one to your enemy,
they’ll think you’re a great person and not be your enemy any more!
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Written by Donald Michael Kraig
Donald Michael Kraig graduated from UCLA with a degree in philosophy. He also studied public speaking and music (traditional and experimental) on the university level. After a decade of personal study and practice, he began ten years of teaching courses in the Southern California area on such ...