I have a pretty good memory and while often this is a blessing, it can be a curse. It has made it difficult for me to move on in a lot of situations and put things behind me. I constantly find myself being reminded that our eyes are on the front of our heads for a reason and if we were meant to be looking backwards then our bodies would enable us to do so but they don’t. I once read in a book about the notion of extending your arm with palm open and visualizing whatever it is that you need to release floating in the palm of your hand. You visualize it there and then take a deep breath and blow. Blow that thing far and out away from you and release it. This is something I want to embrace and conquer in 2012; the ability to know how to release something so that it doesn’t overcome you.

Restore

For the last year I have overcome quite a few obstacles. I was laid off from my job for the first time in my life striking a fear deep in my core that I don’t think I will ever overcome. I had my wisdom teeth removed and suffered through 3 months of hospital visits because a piece of bone was left inside my cheek cavity as a result. And I found myself to be a willing participant of a relationship that consumes me. My friends have shared with me that they ‘don’t know where I have been.’ Meaning, I have truly lost the person I was. I could say that I have evolved into the person I am today but I don’t believe that to be true deep in my soul. I know I have lost something and I aim to restore it as soon as I can.

Commit

I felt it necessary to add this word here because of my past inability to live up to and commit to things I resolved to do. So this word really represents my commitment to myself and the things that I say I want to do and truly have the passion behind it to carry it out. Maybe I won’t quit smoking in 2012 but if and when that becomes a goal of mine, then I need to commit to it 100%. I will not resort to or accept partial completion (unless it’s unavoidable of course) and if failure ensues, then I will commit myself to the fact that failing can be ok sometimes and I will release it.

Release. Restore. Commit.

2011 was a truly groundbreaking year for me in so many ways. I don’t think I have had a year quite like it in some time and I am looking forward to a prosperous and happy 2012 for myself and all of you. Thank you so much for your support and for simply being here.

{image taken by REUTERS/Lisi Niesner}