While larger, overall goals are important, don’t lose sight of the possibilities and opportunities each individual day brings us.

With 2017 behind us and a New Year on the horizon, it’s time once again for reflection. While I’m not keen on measuring my life in terms of years, preferring instead to concentrate on the quality of each day I’m blessed to have, it’s hard not to think back and contemplate, especially considering I’m currently at a point in my life I didn’t think I would be – i.e., I have a position at my day job that has taken precedence, all but putting my cat life to the side.

But just because my life has taken this turn doesn’t mean I’m unhappy, or that I’m not personally successful, or personally fulfilled. I’ll admit sometimes the green-eyed monster of jealousy hits me when I see my cat buddies on social media moving forward with one cat-related project or another, but I’ve come to realize it does me no good, and I prefer to be happy for them, rather than upset it’s not me.

Mind over matter – rather than begrudging what I don’t have, I prefer to be grateful for what I do have.

Life is what you make of it, and honestly, I’m very grateful for what I have. I’m good at what I do, and right now I’m needed where I am. Cats will always be a part of my life – that will never change – and I miss writing and visiting everyone’s blogs with regularity, but for my own health, I’ve had to make some compromises, one of them, making peace with the fact I can’t do everything and have to participate in moderation.

Life is hard, it’s rarely perfect, but it’s all we have. How we chose to get through it makes all the difference between a good and a bad day.

Another milestone, despite the significant difficulties and challenges 2017 presented both in a personal and global sense, it was a time of mending, forgiveness, and healing for my family, something that’s given us much needed peace, acceptance, and tolerance of one another. It may seem cliché, but that’s all that really matters to me in the scheme of things – everything else can be overcome if you have that in your life.

Often the roadblocks to the path of happiness are self-imposed – remove them and set yourself free.

But it all starts from within. For true happiness to exist with others, you have to be happy with yourself. Set yourself free from negative emotions and anger and open your heart and mind to a healthier life in all aspects. Live in the moment and be selfish. Not a mean and hurtful selfish – a selfish that is nurturing to the mind and soul. Follow your dreams, follow your passions, and jump off that cliff just a bit – you’d be surprised at how liberating even the tiniest step can be to changing your life. A happier, more fulfilled you, is a happier and healthier person to the world at large.

Follow the lessons our cats teach us – why waste energy with anger when it’s so much healthier for us to be happy.

Happy New Year everyone – peace and love to you, yours, and all those beautiful critters in your life!