Hey, everybody! Reader here, and I want to welcome you to a brand-spankin’-new year!

2025 has arrived!

How did you spend your New year’s Eve?

I just kicked back at home and watched hockey.

First, I watched the St. Louis Blues take it to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Winter Classic at historic Wrigley Field (the home of the Cubs, of course).

Then, in a game that was much less enjoyable, I sat through the United States’ 4-1 butt-kicking of Team Canada at the World Juniors in Ottawa. In a word… yikes! Debbie Downer puts it best…

Let’s hope our guys can stay out of the penalty box, generate some more offense, and get revenge on Czechia tonight in the quarterfinals, after the Czechs knocked us out of the tournament in last year’s quarterfinals.

And, on top of that, I didn’t even make it to midnight! I was watching YouTube videos and eating snacks, when I checked my phone to see that it was about 11:54 p.m.. Time to ring in the new year. Except, the next thing I knew, I checked the time again, and it was about 1:15 a.m.. I dosed off and missed the arrival of 2025!

Oh well, what can you do?

I ran into a buddy (and former co-worker), and asked if he had big plans for the evening. He said he was taking it easy, but his son was having some friends over.

My, how times have changed… a few short years ago, we’d have been the ones tearing it up on New Year’s Eve. Now, the next generation is taking over!

With the arrival of 2025, this begs the cliche question… Have you made any New Year’s resolutions?

I’ve gotta be honest. I’ve never been one to make resolutions, as I find them to hard to keep. But I know I’m not the only one to fall into that trap.

We may go into the new year with the best of intentions when it comes to self improvement, but our resolutions often fall by the wayside.

Why is that?

Often, we get caught up in setting ambitious goals without a clear game plan. Instead of going all-in at once, why not try breaking those goals into bite-sized steps? It makes the journey a lot more manageable and way less stressful.

I know for me, I find that if I make big sweeping, grandiose plans, they end up being too tough to follow through.

For me, I find that it’s easier if I work toward making smaller, incremental improvements, with a goal of simply being “better.”

Whether it’s improving my physical and mental fitness, becoming better with my finances, or simply having more fun, I find that if I set attainable goals, when you reach them, it’s much more satisfying. Knock those things off your mental “to-do” list, and you might surprise yourself as how quickly you can meet those goals!

Plus, celebrating each little win keeps the motivation flowing. Remember, it’s all about progress, not perfection!

This year, let’s take it easy and make those resolutions stick.

Whether you’re aiming for a healthier lifestyle, career changes, or just more ‘me time,’ we’ve got this!

Let’s cheer each other on. Here’s to a relaxed and successful year ahead!