Focus on the positive in the new year

Well, 2011 is almost over. The end of the Mayan calendar looms closer. And with it, the end of the world in 2012, according to many people. Tick tock. Tick tock.

Personally, I find it ridiculous to put that kind of weight on a calendar etched in rock several thousand years ago. For all we know, the end of the Mayan calendar could just as easily have been a practical joke carried out by a group of primitive, witty pranksters.

Perhaps it was the stone carver who said, “Hey, I have an idea. Wouldn’t it be funny if we put an end date on this calendar so when someone finds it thousands of years from now, they’ll obsess over the meaning of why the calendar is finite?”

A couple of high priests agreed. They sacrificed the stone carver as a reward for his epic foresight and voila! Modern man has something to argue about.

But seriously, based on what I witnessed at the crack of dawn yesterday, there are a lot of people who could care less about the Mayan calendar and are reasonably sure the world will be intact this time next year. I found myself surrounded by a bunch of other eternal optimists at Target, buying up holiday lights and decorations by the cart.

As I was grabbing thousands of minilights at 50% off, it occurred to me the very act of shopping for next year’s lights was one of incredible hope. I had no intention of using the decorations for nearly a full year. In other words, I was willing to spend money for things I was going to shove into deep storage with the hopes of living long enough to see the day when I could actually plug them in.

A short time later, I was at another store watching a similar scene unfold with dozens of early morning shoppers elbowing one another for the right to buy ornaments and other Christmas bangles, which they would also store for about 50 weeks.

The whole experience was very uplifting, and got me to thinking about what sort of positive resolutions I might make for 2012. But before doing so, I thought it only fair to review my resolutions made last year. It’s the first time I’ve ever looked back at what I wanted to accomplish.

I resolved to write something of value both to myself and others. I wanted to expand and nurture relationships with friends. And I vowed to laugh more.

Much to my surprise, I achieved every goal I set for myself last year. The writing, the friendships and the laughter all came via a positive intention to bring them into my life.

With that reinforcement as a foundation, I’m going to set my sights a little higher this year.

I’d like to finish the book I am writing by May, acquire a literary agent, have the book published and earn enough income to make it my new career.

I want to continue to build the friendships I’ve rekindled and make even more friends wherever I land.

I intend to make fitness a bigger part of my weekly routine. I have some clothes that could fit better. It’s time to fix that.

So there they are. Three lofty goals, which will significantly improve life as I know it to be. Like last year, my resolutions are all about adding things to my life. I’ve carefully crafted each one so that I am not talking about losing, quitting or giving something up. The things I hope to gain and increase in my life, should naturally bring about the extrication of the things I don’t want. Thus, there’s no need to waste breath on those things.

I believe focusing on the positive is the true key to success. It’s like that Mayan calendar. You can see the end date as something cataclysmic. Or you could look at it as the beginning of something new.

As 2012 arrives next Sunday, fill yourself with optimism and inspiring thoughts of how your life can be more abundant and joyous. Don’t dwell on what you want to get rid of or stop doing. As the old saying goes, “If you can fix something, why worry about it? And if you can’t fix something…why worry about it?”

Happy New Year to each and every one of you!

GARY HUERTA is a Glendale resident and author. He is currently working on his second novel and the second half of his life. Gary may be reached at gh@garyhuerta.com.