Why 2016 will be different

Every year, I always say the same things — proclaim how this year will be the year that things really change in some way for me and so often I’m let down because I set these unrealistic goals and it’s all too much for me to really get a hold on but this year it’s all different. It’s different because of a simple quote from the movie What If. In it, one of the characters is preparing to marry someone and she’s talking to the main character about why he should just own up to what’s real in his life, what he really wants…saying simply, what’s the worst that can happen — and then relates it to marriage.

Look, one thing I like about getting married, is that you can stand up in front of everyone you care about and state it for the record that you believe in the best case scenario.

That’s it.

Marriage is looking at the statistics and everything that happens all around us and saying, I believe in the best case scenario, that this won’t turn to crap and I’ll be able to live somewhat happily ever after with this individual forever.

That quote made me think about what I wanted for my life and made me stop and think to myself, with everything that’s going on in my life, what’s the worst that could happen?

Take, for example, how things could go at work. I love what I do, or at least I’m loving it more now than I would have said a few months ago. I stopped and asked myself where I really want to be in a year (at the anchor desk) and determined what I needed to do to get there. I’ve anchored before so the next thing left to do is look for an opportunity and — here’s the out of the ordinary move for me — pursue it, even if it’s not in my time slot or not something that’s “for me,” I’ll never know what is until I try.

It’s also this: writing. I’ve wanted to write and publish and share and do all these things and I’ve always been scared that someone will look at it and call it dumb, awful, terrible, a piece of trash and you know what, maybe someone will — but at the end of the day, maybe someone will really like it, maybe someone will be inspired, maybe someone will get something they need, boom, best case scenario realized.

That’s what changed. I decided to look at my life like it was a marriage and accept that while it may not be perfect and it may not give me everything I want all the time, I’m living it and I’m in it to win it so why not assume the best will happen instead of constantly fretting about the worst.

So here’s my new year’s resolution in all of its gusto and greatness: believe the best case scenario and adapt as necessary.