Have you ever felt so optimistic and full of life that it's almost...suspicious?

Well yep, that is me this morning! After waking up early, having a chai tea latte, reading Dracula, and doing yoga, I felt that I was ready to accomplish anything. Recent political news aside (which does make me furious, really), I am feeling pretty good.

For many of us, 2017 was difficult. Personally, it has probably been the worst year I have ever had.

I often think of a moment when I was younger, probably seven or so, and playing with blocks at my grandma's house with my little sister who was about two at the time. I had just built this beautiful block city, with a moat and everything (the blue blocks were great for that), and was admiring it as my best work yet. When suddenly, my sister got up from her building place, looked me in the eyes, and walked right through my block city, knocking it down. Shocked and devastated, I screamed and pushed her, inevitably hurting her little toddler body as it hit the carpet. My grandma came upstairs, and for the first and only time in my life, yelled at me. I was in trouble for pushing my sister, who to this day, still claims that she accidentally stomped through my block city like Godzilla.

I feel like that block memory was my 2017. Going into the year, I had worked toward my goals and what I wanted meticulously and clearly. I was building my life, and ready for the next steps. Then, unforeseen events came and knocked my blocks down, leaving me confused and angry. I had built myself up, then crumpled into nothing. And I handled it by not taking the proper steps forward. I didn't take care of myself for a while, taking months to return to some state of fragile normalcy.

2017 was a year of being torn down to nothing and built back up again.

This morning, I decided to draft some New Year's Resolutions. Many of my goals are totally attainable, but will take time - such as picking up piano again or going through my French notes to relearn much of the beautiful language I once swore I would never forget. Perhaps they are a little ambitious, but hey, at this moment I really feel like I can conquer anything.

And for now, I am taking advantage of this feeling. In 2018, I will make sure my block city has the proper protection so that it can expand, with its imaginary inhabitants leading fulfilling lives.

If there is something you want to do, make an actionable plan. Write a sticky note and put it on your mirror, block out time in your calendar or find a buddy who will do it with you or help you along.

We are getting ready to go into 2018 together, one block at a time. Let's do this.