I have spent the last 20 years of my life working, trying, failing and succeeding, and now I can safely say that everything is all paying off for me.

If someone had told me just two years ago that I would be starting my own business and be leasing office space for it by this time, I would have not believed them, but here I am now, even in a down economy, I am getting more contracts than I can shake a stick at.

Sure I am happy about my success, but there are times like now when I sit back and think about the journey, and especially at the darkest points of it, I not only feel incredibly blessed, but I also can see that same potential in so many others as well.

If a joker like me can do it, anyone can.

When I hear someone make excuses for their lot in life instead of taking responsibility and action, and I want to grab them and tell them that they do not have to accept stagnation, and can actually abstain from mediocrity.

The moment we rely on others for our happiness and prosperity, whether that someone else be the government, family, significant others, etc., is the moment we all surrender our sovereignty as individuals. That is how any nation/society truly loses it's freedoms. It does not have to be that way, and we ALL have the power within ourselves to break that destructive cycle.

For all, that is what it all comes down to; 2013, just as 2014, 2015, etc., can be the best years of your life, my life, his life, her life, etc., but only if we choose to make them so.

With that said, let's all make 2013 a happy and prosperous year, and every year afterwards.

God speed!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquantance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dears
for auld lang syne
We'll drink a cup of kindness yet
for auld lang syne.

According to Wikipedia, that's pretty close to Robert Burns' original Scottish:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne* ?
CHORUS: For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Anyway, they're all close enough. I had to sing it to remember the words.

1. 13, to many people, is actually a very lucky number. Dan Marino, a football player wore #13 jersey and is known for running the 3rd most yards in NFL history. In Italy, 13 is a lucky number with many Italians tattooing the number somewhere on their bodies. The list goes on as to why 13 can be a lucky number.

2. 7 is a lucky number all over the world… and according to the Chinese Zodiac, we are entering the year of the Snake, whose elemental is Fire. It's been 7 years since Fire was the element of the year. again 7 is a lucky number.

3. This was the year of the dragon. According to Master Ho, the Dragon's elemental is water. Water is fear… that is why we saw so much turmoil in 2012. Especially in the winter months (the doomsday prophecies, the shootings, the fiscal cliff.) The opposite of water is Fire, the elemental we are moving into. Fire represents happiness and hope. It's that burning desire in us all to do great things, to live our dreams, to be better people and help make the world a better place.

So this year is to be a lucky year. As we leave this old year behind… think positive thoughts. If you think positively… Those thoughts will carry over into a new year full of hope and potential.

So Happy New Year everyone! Everyone knows the song "Auld Lang Syne" right? (Auld Lang Syne meaning "Times Gone By"). Well I discovered I've been singing the lyrics wrong all these years… but I like my way better. lol

Should Old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind..
We'll drink a cup of kindness yet for Auld Lang Syne.
For Auld Lang Syne my dear, for Auld Lang Syne
We raise our glasses to the new year, and All the years gone by!