Do what you love.

Say what you feel.

Follow your heart.

Trust your instincts.

Spoil yourself.

Compliment others.

Welcome change.

Embrace the unknown.

Drive until you reach what seems to be the middle of nowhere.

Explore an old town.

Discover a new town.

Turn the music up.

Sing at the top of your lungs.

Dance around the house in nothing but your favourite underwear.

Smile.

Laugh.

Laugh some more.

Spread kindness.

Share joy.

Bake butterfly cupcakes.

Take yourself on a picnic.

Stay up late.

Sleep all day.

Watch the clouds float by.

Play ‘I Spy’.

Listen to children laugh.

Make children laugh.

Surprise someone.

Surprise yourself.

Write a song.

Learn something new.

Volunteer for a day.

Forgive someone.

Forgive yourself.

Apologise, even if you aren’t the one who necessarily needs to do so.

Breathe deeply.

Love unconditionally.

Be brave.

Be honest.

Be spontaneous.

Take risks.

Crave adventure.

Break routine.

Do something that you always promised yourself you would.

Do something you always promised yourself you wouldn’t.

Discover who you are.

Realise who you’re not.

Pray that you’re smart enough to know the difference.

Appreciate the little things.

Take photographs.

Make memories.

Be crazy.

Feel alive.

Throw away your watch.

Lose all track of time.

Find your happiness.

Find your passion.

Find yourself and never look back.

An amazing thing happens when we finally take the time to get to know ourselves from the inside out; a whole new world is born.

Almost instantly, a weight is lifted and just like that, we are given a second chance at embracing the world for the very first time. Just like that, we become capable of understanding certain aspects of life that we could never quite comprehend before hand and in turn, we unknowingly gain an insight into the world through what seems to be a whole new perspective.

As cliche as it may sound, from the very moment the magic happens, it’s as though time almost stands still and we are left watching as the wonderful world that we once knew is transformed into something so breathtakingly beautiful, that it becomes almost indescribable.

Suddenly we reach a point in our lives where we begin to realise that the opinions of others are and always have been completely irrelevant, because at the end of the day, the only opinion that truly matters is the opinion that we hold of ourselves.

Suddenly we reach a point in our lives where we begin to realise that happiness is no longer fleeting. It no longer becomes something that we are constantly searching for in others because instead, it has evolved into something unconditional. Something we have developed from deep within ourselves that has unbeknownst to us, blossomed into something blissfully beautiful.

Suddenly we reach a point in our lives where we begin to realise our indifference toward the exact geographical location of where we may or may not be in the world, because the contentment that we now hold within ourselves each and every day, is more than enough to make any place feel like home.

Suddenly we reach a point in our lives where we begin to realise that we no longer need permission to put ourselves first. We no longer have the innate desire to harbor guilt over putting our own personal happiness above the happiness of others, because we have finally realised that perhaps there truly is beauty in selfishness.

Suddenly we reach a point in our lives where we begin to realise that everything we have been searching for has in fact been here all along. Everything we have been missing for all of this time has in fact, never truly been missing at all. Instead, it was simply hiding deep down inside of us, just waiting for the perfect moment to escape.

Suddenly we reach a point in our lives where we begin to realise that perhaps the greatest problem with the world was never the fact that we weren’t able to find what we were looking for, but rather the fact that we were constantly searching in all of the wrong places.

It may have taken a little longer than expected, but I am beginning to think that perhaps my stride may well and truly be on it’s way back after all and given the length of time in which it has been missing, you can only imagine my current level of excitement.

Today, during the midst of yet another wonderful afternoon adventure, not only were the birds chirping louder than ever before but the air had a slight crispness to it that to be quite honest, was completely indescribable and while it may have been a simple ‘afternoon jog’ for most, for me it was pure magic. Magic to which I am proud to say seemed to last much, much longer than ever before.

For a rather typical Wednesday afternoon in the middle of suburbia, there was something so blissfully beautiful about the way the countless trees were so peacefully swaying through the breeze and while others may not have ever even noticed, I was left completely and utterly mesmerized.

The air was fresh, the breeze was cool, the birds were singing almost as brightly as I was smiling and despite my body telling me otherwise, in that very moment, I would have sworn that I could have kept running forever.

While many of us may never actually admit to it, as much as we don’t enjoy being judged ourselves, we too have judged others on more than one occasion and despite the overwhelming hypocrisy of it all, reckless judgement has almost become a natural human instinct.

Whether it is judgement based on appearance, personality, career paths, lifestyle choices, family matters, health aspects or even something as simple as those we choose to associate with, it seems that as a whole we no longer believe in the beauty of the benefit of the doubt.

It seems that somewhere along the way, instead of making a conscious choice to search for the good in others, we have chosen to use our narrow minded first impressions to place each and every person we meet into a tiny little box. A carelessly labeled box which more often than not, we never actually allow the accused to climb out of, simply because we are so sure that our judgements are correct. Despite of course, never actually having any true, tangible evidence to go by.

I think we can all agree that it takes but a single second to judge. Just one single second to judge a stranger crossing the road, based on nothing more than their appearance and their mannerisms and yet it takes that very same amount of time to instead, simply smile. One single second of replacing judgement and preconceptions with a mutual understanding of the path that life may have forced them to lead. A mutual appreciation for the simple fact that whatever the world has thrown at them, they have found the strength to face yet another day.

Judgement is a choice; a conscious choice which could easily be replaced with acceptance in an attempt to shape a beautiful, widespread change and yet instead, in a wonderfully developed world that is filled with such a vast array of people, we continue to remain ignorant to the facts. We continue to remain closed off to the magical ways of the world, choosing instead to completely ignore the notion that there are just some things in life that we may never fully understand.

At the end of the day, life is going to happen with or without our blessing and as far as each individual journey is concerned, there is no single one path in life for each and every one of us to venture towards. Each person not only has a different road to take, but a different lesson to learn; consequently altering their story in a way that is entirely different to ours and while we may often forget at times, every person we meet does indeed have their very own story. Every person we cross paths with has lived through a defining moment that nine times out of ten, has made them exactly who they are in this very moment and the simple fact that they have made it out the other side alive, is often a miracle in itself.

So perhaps the next time we have the innate desire to judge a person, we should instead stop and think. Stop to consider for a moment all of the endless obstacles that life may have carelessly thrown their way, prior to the very moment in which we are laying eyes on them and if we are lucky enough to be given the opportunity, perhaps we should allow them the chance to share that story.

Perhaps we should stop for a moment every now and again and instead of simply judging, choose to try and understand. Choose to appreciate the value of another human life, however different it may appear to ours. After all who knows, we may just learn something we otherwise would never have known. A lesson which may just change our very path in life and suddenly, we might find ourselves finally beginning to understand the intricacies of the world for quite possibly the very first time.

If not however, simply wait a moment or two. Eventually life happens to everyone, even the best of us and the way in which Karma chooses to work her magic is quite often in a way that we never could have expected.

My advice; be kind. Life is ironic to say the least.

It’s only the very beginning but already, I have decided that this year is going to be different. No more over thinking, no more planning ahead, no more constantly second guessing every decision or every thought and no more stressing over the endless possibilities of the future. Instead, this year I am simply going to ‘go with the flow’ in every sense of the word.

This year I am not going to write a long list of New Year’s Resolutions in an attempt to make my world seem brighter, but rather I am simply going to make it that way.

This year there is only one resolution that has managed to make it to the top of the list and that is to trust in the process. To trust in life and everything that comes with it. To trust in the mystery and embrace the magical way in which life cleverly spins its web, knowing with absolute certainty that wherever I end up, is exactly where I am meant to be.

This year I am going to trust that as long as happiness is involved, then I must be heading in the right direction, because 99% of the time anything that makes you happy can’t be entirely bad. Regardless of whether it is temporary or everlasting, happiness is happiness and something that makes you smile is worth holding onto, for quite possibly as long as you can.

This year I am going to approach the world with more faith than ever before. Not faith in the religious sense however, but rather an unwavering faith in the fact that somehow, eventually, everything will fall into place.

Faith that despite the times where we may choose to believe otherwise, life rarely makes mistakes and while there may well be moments when we feel as though we are headed slightly off track, the truth is that we are never quite as lost as it may seem. At some point the smoke will settle, the confusion will pass and once again, it will all begin to make perfect sense. Until then however, I will be trusting in the process and doing my best to enjoy the ride.

Until then I will be bravely stepping out of my comfort zone, taking every possible opportunity that comes my way and with any luck, quite possibly entering a whole new world. A big, bright and beautiful world which I will be exploring with an overwhelming sense of contentment; believing entirely in the notion that at any given moment, I am exactly where I am meant to be.

Dearest 2014; I think this time around, you’re the one who is going to be in for a surprise.