(Newswire.net — December 27, 2017) — The new year offers a new chance to become the person we want to be. There’s something universally hopeful about changing the calendar page from 2017 to 2018. There’s a reason people crowd Times Square to watch the ball drop every New Year’s Eve, and it’s not just because they’re drunk tourists with a lot of money. We like symbols of change, and a new year is one of the biggest. But we can’t merely sit around and wait for change to wash over us. We have to go out and grab it while we can. There are certain pillars of a good life that we’d be wise to remember as we go into 2018.
A good education
America is a country that constantly preaches about the value of education. If a politician wants to score points, promising an increase in public education funding is a pretty good way to do it. We tell kids that so much of their future depends on what kind of college they get into, but that ignores a hard fact: most people in this country won’t get a bachelor’s degree, or even an associate’s degree. College can be quite expensive, and a lot of eighteen-year-olds decide to go down a different path once they’ve secured their high school diploma. If you’re working a low-paying job and wishing you could go back to college, though, you should know it’s not too late. There are plenty of shady online colleges out there, but there are also a multitude of reputable online schools like Linfield College. Many working adults can’t afford to just quit their job and become a student again, and that’s OK. Online education gives you the flexibility you need to improve your life will still making enough money to pay the pills. You’ve waited long enough to get that degree; there’s no sense in waiting any longer.
Solid leisure time
When money is tight, leisure activities are one of the first things to go by the wayside. That’s understandable. If you’re in a situation where just making rent is tough, then you aren’t going to feel like you can set aside much of anything for those Waikiki surfing lessons you’ve been dreaming about for the last few years. Work as hard as possible to get yourself out of any financial jams, but when things improve, don’t forget about that vacation you’ve been wanting to take. Even setting aside a few dollars a month can add up to a great tropical vacation before too long. That’s doubly so if you have a spouse or partner who can also save up a little bit. Make a game out of it and put out a “Dream Vacation” jar. Seeing that jar on your counter and watching it fill up slowly can give you encouragement during your darkest days. We all deserve the chance to get away every so often. We all need something to look forward to in the midst of the daily grind. Don’t feel like you have to take a two-week international cruise, either. A three-day weekend can be enough to recharge us mentally and physically.