Happy (almost) New Year, everyone! I have to admit: sometimes around this time of year, I focus more on what I haven’t accomplished instead of what I have. If you suffer from the same regretful regret, then you know what? Forget it. Let’s both wipe the slate together and look forward to having an AMAZING 2017 instead!

One tool that always inspires me to forget about the past and move on is this poem. Enjoy and again, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Start Where You Stand

by Berton Braley

Start where you stand and never mind the past,
The past won’t help you in beginning new,
If you have left it all behind at last
Why, that’s enough, you’re done with it, you’re through;
This is another chapter in the book,
This is another race that you have planned,
Don’t give the vanished days a backward look,
Start where you stand.

The world won’t care about your old defeats
If you can start anew and win success,
The future is your time, and time is fleet
And there is much of work and strain and stress;
Forget the buried woes and dead despairs,
Here is a brand new trial right at hand,
The future is for him who does and dares,
Start where you stand.

Old failures will not halt, old triumphs aid,
To-day’s the thing, to-morrow soon will be;
Get in the fight and face it unafraid,
And leave the past to ancient history;
What has been, has been; yesterday is dead
And by it you are neither blessed nor banned,
Take courage, man, be brave and drive ahead,
Start where you stand.