New Year, New Me?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Don't deny it. You've been singing all the Christmas songs, you've got the advent calendar and you're looking forward to being a slightly constipated stuffed animal by Christmas evening. But we can't forget the most important parts of Christmas.

From the Christian point of view, it's to celebrate Jesus' birthday. A holiday to celebrate the birth of the Saviour with your loved ones. But it's also the time of the year to be reunited with more distant relatives and remember the ones who didn't make it to be there.

When you can, in the next couple of days, try to make someone else's Christmas better. Small acts of kindness. You never know, it could mean the world to them. After all, no one should have a bad Christmas, one full of sadness and dejection.

So appreciate every gift you have because it's the thought that counts. Yeah I know, it could be clothes that don't even fit but just go with it. Enjoy the time you spend with your family and don't neglect these moments.

And of course, a new year is coming. Oh and the millions of new year resolutions that will hardly last to the end of January let alone the full 12 months.

So why do we still make new year resolutions when we don't really follow them? Just a way of renewing fresh hope for a better life?

Whatever the reason is, I guess the key to successfully completing a new years resolution is to focus on just one thing. Just one thing you want to change about yourself or your life. Something achievable, something realistic. So you can put energy into making sure you're actually organised to do it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm as guilty as anyone with this. Things happen and as soon as you don't feel like doing it one day, it all starts to fall out of the window.

If you want to go the gym more, set reminders on your phone, follow motivational accounts on social media, have a weekly plan.  Want to do better in school? Then stop neglecting work, do that little bit extra, get help from friends and teachers etc.

Exhibit A of organisation

There's loads of things to look forward to in 2016. For me it's definitely the Olympics and Euro 2016 which will make for an amazing summer.

But for you? Maybe one of your favourite artists will be playing a gig near you, maybe you'll meet someone you like out of the blue, maybe you'll ace any exams that come your way. You never know. It's always nice to have hope isn't it?

Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!