Favorite Quotes to Live By in the New Year

Perfect quote for 2022, don’t you think? Yes, we are still dealing with the pandemic and its challenges, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look forward to the new year with its endless possibilities. Why not take this time to think about the life we want to live and our vision of what the coming year can be? With that in mind, let’s begin 2022 off right with favorite quotes that will uplift our year, inspire hope for the future, and encourage us to strive for our dreams.

Take Heart with the Day and Begin Again

“Every day is a fresh beginning; Take heart with the day, and begin again.” 

This quote is from a Scottish poem “New Every Morning” by Susan Coolidge. This poem spoke to me.

I don’t know about you all, but I developed some bad coping mechanisms these past couple of years including stress eating.

After writing a blog on losing pandemic pounds and sharing my success on my author’s Facebook page (complete with photos of my scales), I messed up. Selling our house and moving along with some other stressful events threw all my good intentions out the window.

Of course, I was kicking myself, but I quickly realized that this is the time we all need to show ourselves some self-compassion.

This poem reminds us to appreciate the chances we’re given to start again if we fail. “Yesterday’s errors let yesterday cover,” Coolidge writes.

Or as a meme from SparkPeople states: “Just because you mess up doesn’t mean you have to give up.”

Okay, this endless pandemic is awful, things have been hard and maybe they’ll be bad again – or maybe not. Michael J. Fox said it well: “I think the more unexpected something is, the more there is to learn from it.” So, hang on to valuable lessons learned during the pandemic. But don’t forget to take heart with the day.

Whatever bad behaviors we may have developed during these tense times, let’s just move on. Let go of those self-destructive habits, anger, stress, or boring routines that seemed to dominate so many of our lives during the pandemic.

Embrace the fresh beginning every day brings. Develop new habits that bring peace and serenity.

Poet Juansen Dizon expresses a similar thought: “I hope you realize that every day is a fresh start for you. That every sunrise is a new chapter in your life waiting to be written.”

Let’s simply begin again.

Change Things Yourself

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” —Andy Warhol, artist

Oh, so true.

As hubby and I work toward retirement, we want to be healthy to enjoy it. So, we’re kicking ourselves into gear by signing up for a Spartan race.

As author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, wrote: “‘Life is short’ really means ‘do something.’”

If you’ve seen Facebook pictures of friends with muddy faces leaping through fire, there’s a good chance you’ve been exposed to this latest fitness phenomenon.

The Spartan race is the world’s leading obstacle race. The course is designed to push people’s perceived limits of what they think they’re capable of – hopefully leading to a path of self-discovery and sense of accomplishment.

Or your legs forget how to work and you just end up with mud on your face – haha.

By the way, I totally blame my daughter-in-law and hubby who jumped on the idea and signed us up. But I must admit, it’s inspiring me to get into shape! The races vary according to distance and difficulty. Of course, hubby and I are tackling the 3.5 mile “Sprint” race, the “easiest” of the series of races they offer.

As Spartan CEO Joe De Sena states: “Once you put a date on the calendar, you become serious. You become disciplined. You must commit to something first, and that forces you to do the work.”

True, true. Stay tuned, I’ll be writing all about the race in a future blog!

Speaking of other changes, I’m also giving “Dry January” a try for the first time. If you’re not familiar with the term, Dry January is a month when many people voluntarily stop drinking alcohol for the month.

Experts say part of the reason this event is more popular than ever is due to a growing focus on health and wellness. In fact, the demand for non-alcoholic beverages increased in sales by 33% from last year, according to Business Insider.  Good Morning America has some great mocktail drink recipes I plan on trying out.

Need some incentive to join the crowd and go alcohol free? Consider the following facts about alcohol that I share in my book, Ten Secrets to Losing Weight After 50:

• Alcohol slows your metabolism, which is absolutely the last thing you need as you age.
• Liquor has no nutritional value whatsoever and will not make you feel full.
• Studies show that you tend to eat more when you drink alcohol with your meals.
• Alcohol decreases your motivation to exercise.
• Drinking can negatively affect your sleep.
• If you drink an average of five alcoholic beverages per week and cut out that alcohol, you’ll save more than 39,000 calories in a year. That’s 11 pounds of belly fat burned without any other lifestyle changes.

I actually started Dry January early and am on my second week. Let me tell you, I feel great! Giving up wine has helped me start losing weight again as well as feel more energetic and productive.

Design Your Days

“The important thing to remember is that your day is a unique reflection of you.” – a quote from my new datebook

Each day is a gift. Make sure it mirrors what you want to epitomize. Stop living life by default. Chase your passion. Live your life consciously. Design your days.

To make sure that happens, my datebook suggests writing down non-negotiable activities for the day, month, and year that incorporates your needs and dreams.

“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.” —Pablo Picasso, artist

Designing your life with purpose can give you a sense of control, progress, and accomplishment during these uncertain times. One of my goals this year is to finish editing and then publish my new book to help those who want to live their dream of writing in retirement.

But designing your day isn’t all about success and accomplishment. Be sure to schedule things that bring you a sense of inspiration, joy, and relaxation.

You can set the right tone for the rest of your day by checking out the tips in my blog, Ten Ways to Start Your Morning Right. And while it’s good to design and plan your day, stay flexible at the same time. This will lessen the possibility of frustration if things go awry.

“Don’t make plans. Make options.” —Jennifer Aniston, actor.

Last but not least, don’t forget to take time to be grateful as you recap the day and celebrate progress as part of your evening routine.

Hope these New Year’s quotes have inspired and motivated you in some way! Do you have a favorite New Year’s quote? What are your goals for the new year? Please share in the comments below.

Need some more inspiration for the new year? Use the links below to find more inspiration from my blogger friends who share their favorite New Year’s quotes and inspirations:

Rebecca Lyndsey: A Whole New Year

Books by Rose: Four Special Quotes to Consider

Sandra Bennett: A Few Favorite Quotes to Live By in the New Year

James Milson: Guided by the Golden Rule

Carmela Dutra: Favorite Quotes to Live by in the New Year

Cat Michaels: How You Can Find Writing Inspiration from Winter Beaches, Historic Gardens & Stringrays

May 2022 bring you lots of love, laughter, and joy!