My brother and I had a conversation yesterday about New Year’s resolutions. We were wondering why people wait until the new year to make changes in their lives that are good for their health and wellness.

At the turn of every year, people somehow think they’re getting a new start. I’ve never thought this to be true, because you’re not actually starting over. You’re adding another chapter to the book you’ve already begun.

New Year’s resolutions are akin to my book analogy.

I love reading, and when I get started on a good book I can hardly put it down. Especially not in the middle of a chapter. We become so wrapped up in our lives that even when we know we have to make changes or add something new to our routines, it’s difficult. It’s like disrupting a riveting book in the middle of a chapter.

I’m not sure how well you stick to your resolutions every year, but I usually tend to forget mine or just plain fail at keeping them. I’ve come to realize that by resolving to keep my room clean, I’m setting myself up to nose-dive into the abyss of terrible keepers of resolutions. So this year I decided on a few that are more attainable. Because really, who has time to clean their room?

Here are my resolutions for 2016 (in no particular order):

1. Spend at least one hour outside every day. Winters in the north land are brutal, and sometimes the only reason I go out is to care for our horses in the morning and night. I resolve to spend more time outside, even if all I do is clean horse poop from the paddock. At least I’m being active and not sitting around. A few of the things I enjoy during winter are cross country skiing, riding my horses in the snow, going for walks and even riding bike.

2. Pray every day and read at least one Bible verse. This sounds easy enough, but sometimes it’s hard to maintain a routine. I like to pray and read the Bible right before I go to bed. But there are days when I’m so tired I can barely remember what day it is, much less remember to thank God for the blessing of spending time with my family and horses, or ask for guidance.

3. Say more positive things than negative. People, unfortunate events or even a bad mood can bring on negative thoughts that lead to a downward spiral. One negative comment can trigger a whole slew of negativity. I like to think I’m a pretty positive person who finds the good in situations. But I could do a better job of not getting caught up in the negativity of others, or spewing my own negativity when I’m feeling down.

4. Quit comparing myself to others. Oh boy, this one’s a biggie. I must admit, I’m a very competitive person. This competitive edge can be a good thing, because it drives me to set big goals, and strive to achieve and better myself. But it can also lead me to believe I should be doing what other people are doing or achieving what they have achieved. Unrealistic comparisons can only drag you down.

5. Maximize productivity on social media. I have a love-hate relationship with social media. I think it’s an awesome way to stay on top of the happenings in the world and share my blog with others. But it also keeps me from being present in the moment. I’m going to be more conscious of setting time limits to scroll through and check things out, post whatever needs to be posted and then put it away.

One of my most popular blogs last year was 2015 Year in Review: I would drive 5,000 miles. The year past was pretty darn eventful and spectacular. But I have high expectations that 2016 will be just as awesome. I want to give you a sneak peek of what’s to come in the new year.

First off, in six days from now I’m hopping aboard a plane to Lexington, Kentucky, to work at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. I’m unbelievably excited for this, because it will be a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the sale aspect of the Thoroughbred racing industry.

After spending a week in Kentucky, I’m flying to New York City to visit friends and see the sights. I’m hoping to check out Aqueduct Racetrack, see the Statue of Liberty, walk through Central Park and possibly catch a Broadway show, on top of a bunch of other things.

Then back to Fargo I’ll go to prepare for my 4 months abroad, studying in Chile. Be sure to follow me throughout my travels, as I’ll be blogging and taking pictures along the way.

Happy New Year!

I’d love to hear what your plans or resolutions are for 2016! Leave a comment below or send me an email on my About page.