First of all, if you’re one of the million, trillion people who don’t have plans tonight – I salute you. The media would like you to think you’re in the minority (“who stays home on New Year’s Eve?!”), but we all know the truth: sometimes, a holiday is just a day with a fancy name.

That being said, giant party with champagne and That Guy Who Won’t Stop Hugging Everyone or cozy night at home, there is something we can all do this New Year’s Eve to make tonight more than just a day with a fancy name. We can reflect on how awesome we are.

Find a small chunk of time – ten minutes, an hour, a stroll through the neighborhood – and give yourself time to remember the big things you did right this year. Believe me, there’ll be more than enough time to tell yourself what you need to work on in 2009, don’t spend tonight thinking about the future. Spend it thinking about you. What you’ve managed to accomplish, overcome, beat back, bring to life, and accept.

I need to take this advice. My Type A, compliment-shirking personality usually has no time to sit back and admire all I’ve done. How is reveling in myself going to get me anywhere? I think most of the time. That, of course, is the wrong way to go about it. Gloating and bragging are surefire ways to get tripped up, but occasionally surrounding yourself in soft, congratulatory moments is the only way to survive.

Because we will fail in 2009. We will. We will mess up, embarrass ourselves, forget, fumble, and fail. The only way to make sure we stand up again is to know that we deserve to.

You are beautiful. You are God. You are everyone you meet and everything you touch. You can do anything you decide to do. You’re more than capable, and you’ve done a damn good job this year. No matter what your bank account currently looks like, how many fights you’ve had, the cleanliness of your room or brain – you’ve done a damn good job this year. Make sure you know that. Take time to know that.

Buddha says, “All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become,” and I couldn’t agree with him more. You are who you decide you are, and your accomplishments make up that person.

As for me? Two of the small yet vital things I did in 2008 were get in shape and learn to accept. Sure, I could gain more muscle definition and improve that pesky coordination, but I never thought I’d feel this good and strong in my own body. I’m more in shape than I’ve ever been, and it took me a long time to get here. And yes, I’m still really, really impatient and continue to be frustrated over things I can’t control, but 2008 was truly the year I learned to close my mouth and simply adapt to situations, people, and experiences I couldn’t change.

I never thought I’d be this person. I wasn’t hot-wired to be peaceful (starting with those Italian/Irish genes), but I worked harder than ever in 2008 to get here. And I’m so happy with my progress I could almost do a headstand (especially if someone holds my legs).

Share the joy and accomplishment: let us know what you’re proud of doing this year. Remember, no triumph is too small.

[Photo by ||!prliignore1||]