Happy New Year! I’ve had a break for a few days of Christmas fun but thought that today seemed an appropriate day to get back into a routine.
What do I wish for you this year? Clearly I wish for all of the obvious things – health, happiness, fun… Most of all though, I want you to realise that this year can be whatever you make it. It is a blank canvas for you, and although you can’t choose all of the materials that will go on that canvas, you can decide what the picture will be.
You won’t be able to define all of the things that happen over the next twelve months. Some will be good, some bad, some planned and some unexpected. With a bit of careful thought you can hopefully maximise the good things that happen, but you will never be in total control. The thing you are always able to control though is your attitude. How will you react when you fall? You can stay down or you can dust yourself off and carry on. I suggest the latter.
This year will present you with many opportunities. Some of these will be obvious and others disguised. Sometimes the best opportunities arise from the darkest of moments. I don’t expect you to understand this at your age but as you get older you will begin to see what I mean. I hope that you make the most of these opportunities.
You have another year of education in front of you. That will still be the case when you are an adult by the way – you should never stop learning. Make the most of all of the information that is around you. Soak it up, interpret it for yourself and use it to help you grow. Think for yourself and don’t just take other people’s word for things. Not everything you see on the telly, read on the internet or hear from your teachers, friends (and parents) will be right. You have your own brain so use it. New ground is broken by people who question the things that other people have accepted. Be a thinker and it will turn you into a groundbreaker.
Every day is an opportunity to touch someone’s life in a positive way. Do that frequently and without expecting anything in return. From a young age I’ve told you that you have limited time on this earth and you have a responsibility to make sure that you make the most of that time. Maybe people think it is wrong that I should point this out to such young children but I don’t think it is. I don’t believe that you can live forever (although other people have a different view on that). I do believe that your impact can go on forever though. I’ll write more about that a different time. Make sure your impact is a positive one because it is what will be left after you have gone.
So my wish for you this year is that you understand that your year is whatever you make it. Embrace every experience with open arms, see every setback as a chance to grow. This year can be a great one if you want it to be.