New Year, new you

link U.S. Air Force graphic: Airman 1st Class Chip Slack

The official countdown began its descent, and billions of individuals across the globe prepared to ring in a new year with their nearest and dearest. The celebration of the New Year has always been a personal favorite of mine as it forces us to stop and reflect upon the past year; who we have been and gives us the opportunity to make attainable goals for the future.

Many people are able to enjoy the luxury of making individual choices daily. The choice to be a better version of themselves than the day before; the act of celebrating the New Year perfectly illustrates the clean slate many are desperately searching for.

As the first month of the New Year comes to an end, members of Team Cannon are afforded the opportunity to kick-off 2015 with excellence. It is the chance to refocus our efforts and streamline processes that may not have worked this past year. Young airmen should use the momentum of the New Year to strive to expedite their upgrade training and set goals for career progression. Supervisors and senior non-commissioned officers can reflect on their leadership traits and fine tune them to motivate their airmen to safely execute daily operations with proficiency, finesse and help instill a greater sense of pride.

Take that class at the Professional Enhancement Center that you have been putting off, or start a new workout regime that you keep saving for a later date. Whatever it is you choose to do, attack it with an aggressive and lasting work ethic.

The journey to self-improvement, in my opinion, should be an everyday task; waking up each morning and slowly chipping away at the obstacles standing in the way of your potential. Once a year, we are given the opportunity to celebrate the past year and set resolutions that will hopefully guide us during the upcoming year. Sitting down and taking the time to map out goals for yourself and your family is something that I find incredibly important for one’s well-being, especially if you can stick to them.

As someone who is constantly striving toward bettering my immediate future and setting myself up for long-term success, the glitz and the glam of New Year’s Eve is a reminder that your past should be celebrated; every struggle that you have overcome to get to where you are was well fought and the prospect of several hundred days of endless possibilities should be welcomed with open arms.

Whether your goals are fitness related, career-oriented, or revolve around family and loved ones, seize every opportunity the New Year presents and strive to make it better than the last. Be proud of where you are in life and continue to epitomize the Air Force core values of Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do.