There is something about the New Year that calls to the optimist in me. The first day of a new year is a siren’s song with its lure of possibilities and starting fresh.

This year I will …

I stopped making resolutions years ago. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say most of my resolutions barely made it a week let alone to the end of the month. The guilt. The disappointment. Ugh! I gave 20 things in 2021 (and 2022) a shot. More of a wish list of things I’d like to do, and while it was fun to see what I could cross off the list (oh so satisfying), there were still things I didn’t get to or try or ignored completely.

Several of my friends set intentions for the New Year. Deepak Chopra said, “Intention is the starting point of every dream.” That resonates with me. And it is something I do in my yoga practice. The intention changes—mindfulness, being patient, practicing acceptance, etc., whatever I chose, the intention is a touchstone throughout my asana practice.

This year I am setting ‘practice kindness to myself’ as my intention. How will I practice kindness? Forgive myself if I don’t walk my handsome pup, or make my writing goal, or when I lose my cool and get angry. Be patient. Dial down the inner voice that is hypercritical. Whether you set resolutions or make wish lists or set intentions or nothing at all, may your year be filled with peace, love, and light.