New year, new me. No matter the language or culture, this is a common statement uttered by billions of people around the world looking for a change as the clock strikes midnight. Whether this change be physical, mental, or emotional, everyone takes advantage of that brief excuse of a time frame to spout all their hopes and dreams for the next 365 days. I’m going to start a diet and stick to it. I’m going to start going to the gym. I’m going to manage my money better. I’m going to be happier. As cyclical clockwork would attest to, these hopeful humans will be back at it again in a few hours, throwing resolutions out into the open air of the new year.

But here’s the thing about resolutions – saying them in the heat of the moment as the big hand and little hand meet for the final time, is the easy part. Turning the words into actions is the hard part. Trust me, I am the queen of saying that I’m going to do all these amazing things, and then I never actually do them. My advice: write your resolutions down and post them on your refrigerator or stick them on a cork board, somewhere you’ll see them every day.

However, I think the important thing to remember about resolutions is that they are bound to change, meaning that life is not set in stone. As the world evolves, our hopes and dreams adapt to the ever-changing habitat that is the universe. This was the one thing that carried me out of 2017 in one piece, knowing that sometimes my plans are different than what God has in store for me. As cliché as it sounds, everything truly does happen for a reason, whether it be good or bad.

This past year has been the worst of my life. I’ve struggled more physically, mentally, and emotionally than I ever have. Every time I thought I was three steps ahead, circumstances out of my control pulled me right back into the negative heap I had just crawled out of. What pulled me out time and time again was the very potent cocktail of family, friends, and the fervent echoes of the resolutions I hade made for myself in 2017.

Hope was a strong warrior in my life, battling away all my demons to keep me going when times were tough. My resolutions for this year are not going to be as trivial as last. Instead of joining the bandwagon of future gym-goers and dieters, I will be simplifying my goals for 2018 into one simple acronym: Humanity, Open-mindedness, Purpose, and Existence.

This year is all about living in the moment and taking the days as they come – the good, the bad, and the ugly. I’m not setting specific parameters and goals because freedom is upon us, and I plan on taking advantage of the wonders of the world while I can. If I live with hope in my heart, everything else will follow suit. And on that note, I wish everyone a safe and joyful New Year. Party and drink responsibly, no matter how you’re ringing in 2018. I’ll be celebrating the best way I know how: a little bit of wine, a definite binge session of NCIS, and an inevitable cup of coffee to ring in the new year on my terms this time around.