New Years State of Mind

On my birthdays, my aunt used to always tell me "I can tell, this is going to be a special year for you." I think she meant that I was going to find someone (which I have not yet) but actually, she was literally right. Most years of my life have been better than some people will ever experience.

I bring this up because I have been thinking lately that how happy you are is so clearly a function of your attitude. Actually I have been thinking this since I saw Liz Murray speak. She has this incredible story about how she went from a homeless teenager to a Harvard student. (Check out a brief overview here.) Her whole life changed when she was able to look at the same things in a different way.

So this Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) I am going to try and keep this little trick in mind. When I am down or annoyed or uninspired, I am going to try and consider what the positive view might be. That is my New Year's resolution.

Jewish New Year poem:

Frustration is unproductive.
Worry is for naught.
Instead harness the power
of positive thought.