It is always an incredible challenge to start the new year on the right foot. We have this illusion that January 1 of every year means new beginnings or the ability to wipe some sort of imaginary slate clean. Who are we kidding? I mean, really? By January 31st most of our “resolutions” are completely forgotten anyway. How are yours going by the way??
Instead, why don’t we try to just learn from our past and improve for the future? Just like resolutions, this isn’t an easy task either. If I’ve learned anything from 2011, its that nothing ever really turns out the way you planned. Every decision we make seems to turn us in a direction that we can never expect an outcome. A really easy example is my decision to return working at a restaurant. What a whirlwind it has been these last 8 months! I wouldn’t change it for the world either. My cake pops have gone from this…
To this…
And just this week, I made this…
(Its salted caramel!) Now, I’m receiving calls for these things in mass quantities for christenings, weddings, and events across the board. So the moral of the story is that we shouldn’t really expect a new year to “change” us. Instead, reflect on how good (or how utterly horrible) last year was, and how you can make this year even better.
As I walked through the streets of quaint, bustling Summit, NJ the other night, I couldn’t help but wonder what if I had flat out refused my decision to work in another restaurant? This time last year, I was all gung-ho about opening my place by the springtime, with serious plans in place to make it happen. I am so glad I didn’t do it and I am also confident in the many, many, many decisions I made last year. I can’t lie, last year sucked. But a lot of good came from it, particularly from a career standpoint. I have met some really amazing people that already have and will continue to make me a better person in the future.
So as I wrap up this piece (and 2011), I can’t be happier with the decisions I made last year, all of them. Why shouldn’t we allow ourselves to be happy? Blissfully and unequivocally happy; whether its at work, home, or the places we go in between. Here is to an amazing 2012… finally doing what we really want, not what others want us to do.
