How ’bout that list you made last year? Not the one for Santa- I’m talking about the one with all the things you planned for the New Year? The weight you were going to lose? The money you were going to save? The DIY home improvements you were going to make? The books you were going to read? Need I go on? How did that all work out for you?  I’m pleased to report that although there are plenty of things that did not get crossed off my list, it was not a total bust. Not to toot my own horn, but I’m happy to say that I can look back and see the ways in which I’m a better person today than I was last year at this time. And at the end of the day (year!), that’s what really counts. Don’t misunderstand me, though; while I can see the progress I’ve made, I am in no way the perfect specimen of humanity. There’s always room for improvement and I hope that at the end of next year I’ll be able to say that I’ve become a better person than I am today. Which is my point. We make these lists of how we want to be better in the new year, and sometimes our goals are manageable. Other times, they are completely unrealistic, which is bound to set us up for failure. Which gets us depressed, disappointed, and unmotivated. And so the cycle continues… This year, I want to try a new strategy. Call it an End-of-Year Resolution. I want to look myself in the eye and be honest about who I am. Do I think I should wake up before dawn six days a week for a ten-mile run? Yes, I do. Do I think I can pull that off? Absolutely not! So my strategy involves being realistic, which means not making any resolutions that sound remotely like waking up six days a week for a pre-dawn ten-mile run. It is important to me to exercise more, so I’m going to spend a few minutes thinking about the best way to make that happen for me. If it’s something I can do, there’s a better chance I’ll make the effort to do it. And I’m going to think about what really needs to be done, anyway. Just because everyone else is juicing and eating quinoa and being all righteous about it, does it really mean that that’s something I should push myself to do? Uh, no. I don’t think that’s the pinnacle of healthy living so it won’t be on my list. Here’s what I’m trying to say: Don’t try to measure up to the expectations of others, and don’t put things on your list just because other people have put them on theirs. Be true to yourself, and most importantly, love yourself. Then, build on that to make you the best you that you can be, by setting attainable goals and congratulating yourself along the way for each success. Happy New Year, everyone!