January is a strange time to begin a new year, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. It's the dead of winter, it's cold, the days are short and the nights are long. Not exactly auspicious circumstances to turn the page on a new chapter of life. And yet, every year we choose January 1 to set all kinds of goals and resolutions for ourselves. And the really remarkable part is that for those of us who have seen more than a few New Year's Resolutions fizzle and sputter just a few days or weeks after beginning, we still come back year after year and make new resolutions. I don't think this is stupid and I don't think this is insane. We have hope. Unfounded, unrealistic, unrealized hope maybe, but hope nonetheless. We have hope that even though we have tried and failed dozens of times, there is still a combination of circumstances that can finally work together in our favor. I find it inspiring that we always find the hope to make our lives better every single New Year's and I hope that this year especially we stick to our New Year's Resolutions a little longer and they have an even greater positive impact.
