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The start of each new year holds a special place in my heart. When the year began in 2010, I had no idea how much my life would change. Just eleven days into the new year, my father died. He was 57 years old. He was healthy and active. Unbeknownst to him, he developed a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) that led to a pulmonary embolism. And that was it.

Since 2010, I’ve started each year wondering what the next 12 months will bring. I also think about what I hope to achieve between now and the end of the year. This year, I’m committing to learning to enjoy life regardless of the circumstances. There have been too many times when I’ve allowed myself to become mired down by stressors, delaying any sense of joy until whatever craziness I’m dealing with subsides. I have come to the realization that too much time has gone by without me enjoying life. Rather than thinking that joy must wait until the stress is gone, I am determined to find joy in the midst of it.

I recently heard that if you’ve ever longed for the “good old days,” remember this – you’re living them. That’s right – these are the good old days. Life is truly a gift and I am committing to enjoying it.