Nothing Changes...

My friend Mat posted this a couple years ago.
And, it's kind of my inspiration for the year.
Thank you, Mat.

Nothing changes, if nothing changes.

With the New Year upon us, I can't tell you how often I've seen these sentiments come across my social media feeds.  And, the truth is, it is the truth.  If you want something to change, you have to take the steps to make the change.

I've always struggled to walk the line between being too naive and optimistic, and being too cynical and pessimistic.  Although, I usually err on the side of being optimistic.  For nearly a decade, "The Secret," has been brought to my attention...both the book and the video.  And, in various ways, it has had some kind of influence on my way of thinking.

I am the kind of person who will fight to the death for you, if I believe that you're worth fighting for.  Or, I'll leave you in the cold, if I don't.  Katy Perry's "In and Out" is a song, that's basically about how I think.  This of course, is an aside.  Basically, what I'm saying, is that I'll wish the best for you, if you deserve it.

Unfortunately, in the past, this has only been applied to other people.  I sometimes put my trust in the wrong people, and give my all to people who don't deserve it.  Sometimes I allow things to happen, that I shouldn't.  People treat me wrong, and I say, "that's just who they are."  And, it always ends up being detrimental to myself.  Because I'm giving my all to someone else, I give up some of myself.

While I avoid making resolutions at the New Year, I am going to make a conscious effort this year, to put more focus on myself.  I want to put myself out there a little more...talk to someone I wouldn't normally talk to.  Stop making excuses for why I can't write a blog.  Stop making excuses for why I can't draw.  Stop allowing people to tell me that I'm not good enough.  And, it's time for me to start believing in myself.

Over the last year, I have started to create a group of people who surround me, who believe in me.  And, while I haven't ever said thank you to any of them, I want to say it now.  If you read my blog, if you've seen my webcomic, if you've seen my photographs from a show, and said that they were good/bad/otherwise, I want to thank you.  It is because of your feedback that I continue to do what I do.  And, continue to want to do it.

I want to make you all proud.  And, I want to have a reason to be proud of myself.  So, this year, is going to be for us.  (Ok, mostly for me...but sort of for us.)

I have had a bit of a push to put my talents to use, and have been pushing myself to step outside of my comfort zone...which usually involves making excuses for why I don't want to do something.  I may not become a total "Yes Man", but I intend to say yes more often this year.

And, I am still going to put things out there in the universe...because I feel that bits of "The Secret" are true.  I put it out there that I hoped in the new year, that Shaunna Rai would be able to do more traveling, because I think it would be good for her...and lo and behold, next month, we're going to NYC for an AIDS benefit.  (Talk about instant good karma!?)  And, I'm going to try to avoid putting out the bad things for the universe.  I can have a bad day, but I can't say, "My life sucks because..." because, doing so puts it out there that I'm not happy.  And, I want my life to be happy.  I don't have to like my current situation all the time.  But, there are things that I have to be happy about.  I'm loved.  I'm sheltered.  And, I'm healthy.  That's a lot more than some can say.  And, I need to focus on the good.

Take the steps to make your year great.  Choose to look for the good...even if looking for the good, is seeing one single perfect snowflake in the blizzard of the century.  Because, I tell you what...that's my plan for the year.  And, I hope that we can share it together.