Families have a lot of traditions for Christmas day. Many families open gifts in the morning. Many families go to church on Christmas morning. Many families take down all of their lights on Christmas day.
A tradition in my family is going to a movie on the afternoon of Christmas day at the Cinemagic theater in Hutchinson. This year my mom and I attended the 1 ‘o’ clock showing of New Year’s Eve.
While this movie looks like just another romantic comedy, it actually inspired me in more than one way.
Every year, New Year’s Eve was never really that big of a deal to me. I never understood why everyone made SUCH a big deal about it. It was just the passing of another day.
It was an opportunity for my friends and family to make resolutions that they inevitably forgot by the end of January, and for people in my small town to have another reason to have a party. I never really got into all of the hoopla.
After watching this movie, I am now looking forward to New Year’s Eve more than I ever have before, and no it is not because I am going on some fancy trip or because I am going to a big bash with friends. I am going to sit at home with my mom and watch the ball drop.
But, my entire outlook is completely different. New Year’s Eve marks an opportunity for us to look back and appreciate and to look ahead and dream.
As I look back at this past year, it really has been the best year of my entire life. I have truly felt blessings and been more fortunate in the past year than I could ever imagine. I performed in my last play at Hutchinson High School in one of the most fun roles I have ever had the great fortunate to play with the amazing students of HHS drama. I graduated from HHS with some of my best friends. I confirmed and began attending the University of Minnesota with a major in Agricultural Education (one of the BEST decisions I have ever made, big thanks to Melissa Nasers!) Finally, I had the greatest opportunity in the entire world in being able to serve the Minnesota FFA Association.
Yep, it has definitely been the BEST year of my life yet! I have been truly blessed. Looking back gives us the opportunity to appreciate the things we may not have seen before. Appreciating our teachers for giving us those difficult assignments to challenge us (even though they made us SO mad at the time). Appreciating that that one friend walked into our life when we needed them most (even when at the time, we wondered how we could POSSIBLY get along). Appreciating our Agricultural educators for pushing us to try something that we never thought we could/would want to do (thanks again Mrs. Rada!). Appreciating that we have a roof over our heads and food on the table when there are so many out there that don’t have those luxuries. Appreciating the little things in life like coffee dates, late night pizza, and a single encouraging note.
This time of year we can look back at the things that have gone well and the things that haven’t gone so great. We can see those unfortunate moments and learn. We can move past them. We can see those events for what they were meant to be and appreciate how we needed to learn and grow from them.
This is also a time to look forward and dream. Dream of the amazingness that will come out of the next year and how WE ARE going to make those dreams reality.
It is our chance to start over or start again. This is our chance to look to the next year to do more, to be better, and to do better.
We don’t want to look back a year from now and regret or wish that we had. We want to say that we did! We want to say that we did the best that we could. We really did put 110% into everything that we did! We did more than what was expected us! We exceeded expectations! We made this year the best that we could for ourselves and for those around us! We will give nothing less that everything that we have!
There was one line from the movie that really stuck out in my head for days afterward, “If you could do anything and know that you could not fail what would it be? Go out there and do it!”
I have never made a New Year’s Resolution before, but here goes:
I will live the next year under that oath. I will stop trying to focus so much on whether or not I am going to fail and do the best that I can with what I have. I will have no regrets. At this time next year, I want to be looking back and thinking that it was one of the best years of my life because I made it that way.
WE ARE in control of our own lives. From this point forward, I challenge YOU to live your life for without worry of failure. Without worrying what others think of you, and do things, serve others, and live your life because it is what YOU are passionate about!
Look back and remember. Smile, laugh, cry, and appreciate.
Look forward and imagine. Dream, plan, and get excited for what is to come.
I encourage you to write New Year’s resolutions of your own, even if you never have before like me, and try your hardest to stick to them.
Good luck, and feel free to ask me about mine!
Stationed by the Flag,
Chelsea
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