Just as people reflect on the year that was on December 31st, people also tend to look forward to the year ahead on January 1st and wonder what awaits them in the next 365 days. While I do both each year, my main focus lies usually on what is to come in the next twelve months. This year, while I cannot predict the path my life will take in 2004 - I will do everything I my power to make sure that the path I take is a positive one.

That is my one and only New Year's Resolution for 2004 - happiness.

The last few years have not exactly been my best. 2001 speaks for itself - with losing Bradd and losing Doug. In 2002, I had many tough financial woes that carried into 2003 - which was my worst year to date. But now that we have entered 2004 - I have a refreshed sense of life - and a renewed sense of hope that this year will be one of success, financial stability, health, positive friendships - and hopefully - true love.

Most people's New Year's Resolutions last until January 10th. Some people swear that this will be the year they stop smoking cigarettes, some assure themselves that this is the year they will lose that extra weight - and some vow to get a better job. Me? All I want is to ensure that whatever path my life will take is one that is positive - and happy.

The one thing I did so far to begin the course to happiness is allow only those people who are positive and supporting to follow me into the New Year - completely eliminating those who are negative and draining. I did this because in order to have a positive year - you need to surround yourself with only positive people. And besides keeping my "old" positive friends - I intend to make new ones as well.

No matter how my past years have turned out, I have always looked at January 1st as a clean slate - a new beginning. To me, the first of the year represents a blank piece of a writer's pad, or a blank painter's canvas. Despite the fact that many people allow the year to take its own path - I choose to help shape it along the way. Judging by how the last few years were for me, I did just that - I allowed my year and my life to plot its own course.

Not this time.

This time - I will take the reigns of my life and plot my own course - choosing both the direction my life will go and the people that will travel with me. This time, I will do all that I can to make sure that 2004 is one of the best years of my life. Using good judgement, a heightened sense of character toward others - and most importantly - a strong love for myself - I predict that on December 31, 2004 - I will be looking back on the year ahead - and reflecting on a very happy new year.