I’ll be turning 50 later this year, si dios quiere (if God so desires, as my mother would say). Those years represent their share of pain, plenty of mistakes, a dash of wisdom and many lessons learned the hard way.
To usher in 2017, here are 25 resolutions that may just lead you to better times, smarter choices and a richer life.
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- Be grateful for what you have. You won’t have it forever, and you’ll miss it terribly once it’s gone;
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- Develop social skills. Life will be happier if people enjoy your company and want to be around you;
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- Be a better listener. The folks you’ll meet throughout life will have a lot to teach you, if you pay attention;
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- Find a sense of place. As important as what we do is where we do it. Our happiness can be tied to where we live;
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- Be respectful in the language you use. Avoid cursing, and be polite. How we communicate says a lot about us, both good and bad;
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- Hustle. To be successful, you need more than smarts, connections and a work ethic. You need to seek out new opportunities and pursue them, not wait for them to find you;
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- Stay humble and don’t look down on anyone. We’re all equal, because we had the same Creator. If you ever begin to think you’re better than others, then you’ve lost your way;
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- Study people. Pursue a Ph.D. in human nature. Understanding your fellow man, and being able to predict how he is going to react to what you say and do will carry you far;
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- Be careful with money. We need enough funds to sustain ourselves, pay our bills and provide for our family. But not so much that we wind up enslaved to a job we don’t enjoy;
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- Think deeper and more critically about difficult issues. You can’t understand something until you’ve considered it from all sides;
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- Speak your truth without fear. Part of living an honest life means being truthful about what you believe and expressing it clearly;
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- Treasure family. They know you best, and still manage to love you most. That counts for a lot. They’ll be there for you when you need them, if you’re there for them when they need you;
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- Be accountable for your actions. If you do something wrong, take responsibility and learn to say “I’m sorry” rather than offering excuses;
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- Preserve your integrity. Once it’s gone, it’s impossible to get it back. If people can’t trust you, they won’t want to do business with you or want anything to do with you;
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- Persevere. When you strive, you’re going to fail. But what matters is that you learn from failure and don’t give up;
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- Nurture an appreciation for the life experiences of your parents, and other older family members. Those who came before us often have great stories to tell and wisdom to share;
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- Stay curious. Never stop asking questions and exploring new worlds, even if it’s only with your imagination;
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- Be courageous. Most people instinctively avoid conflict and take the easy way. But the brave can change the world;
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- Know your self-worth. People won’t value you or what you have to contribute, until you value yourself;
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- Strive for a good work-life balance. Providing for loved ones is important, but not at the expense of enjoying them.
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- Use common sense. This commodity is incredibly valuable precisely because fewer and fewer people seem to have it;
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- Be present, in your life and those of others. It’s easy to get distracted by gadgets. But it doesn’t do any good for your body to be in one place, if your mind is somewhere else;
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- Treat others with kindness and respect. Our legacy in this world won’t be what we accomplish but the impact we had on everyone else;
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- Choose your partner wisely. We must walk alongside the right people. Nothing else you do, and no other choice you make in life, will be a greater determinant of happiness and success;
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- And last but not least, work on your relationship with God. Take care of it. Dedicate time and attention to it. This was the first thing you knew when you came into the world, and it’ll be the last thing you know when you leave it.
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That’s a strong list — and a good start to the New Year.