Kerby Young Designs Magazine KYD Magazine January Issue | Page 46

I would like to take this time to officially wish all my readers a meaningful, productive sensational blessed 2019. Welcome to your new book filled with 365 clean pages. You possess a

magical pen to write this book, the story of your 2019. Whether we want them or not, the NewYear will bring new challenges; whether we seize them or not, the New Year will bring new opportunities. Make each day count!

My theme for 2019 is called “Challenge Yourself.” The term challenge is not you against someone else; but it’s you against you. If something that you’re doing doesn’t challenge you, then it doesn’t change you. There are twelve months in the year, and each month you can think of something out of the ordinary to do. For the month of January, you can challenge yourself to stop complaining. Every time you catch yourself complaining, put a dollar in a jar. At the end of

the month, spend it on someone who may be in dire need of something. For the month of February, challenge yourself to compliment a different person every day. Strangers included.

For the month of March, challenge yourself to avoid eating fast-food. For the month of April,

challenge yourself to try a new recipe once every week. Research a few meals that is outside of

your culture, and perfect it.

As the months go by, I’ll continue to post a host of challenges that we can all partake in. Apart

from the monthly challenges, I’ll like you to challenge yourself on a daily basis to smile more.

Your smile is actually the best curve on your body. Are you aware that it takes more muscles to

frown than smile? Unfortunately, it does! 2018 taught me the importance of smiling. I used my

smile to my advantage. I smiled when I felt pain, emotional distraught, stressed and to warm

the heart of others. Admittedly, because I learned the power of a smile I’m actually brushing my

teeth more especially with baking powder. Be enthused in wanting to find and embrace the

next challenge. The next challenge can actually be as exciting as the previous one.

Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood. Slowly like the sunrise

peeking over the horizon, so must we peek at success. Arise and begin your day as if it’s your

last day on earth. Dance without the sound of music, laugh as if your life is dependent on it,

network with positive yet queer people, buy the pair of shoes without feeling guilty, sing while

you’re in the shower then progress to karaoke, eat healthier, exercise consistently, dye your

hair without permission, live freely yet exercising caution and pay less to no emphasis to what

others think or say about you. All of this is to say, “don’t just exist but commit yourself to living.

“Happy reading everyone!

2019

The year of challenging yourself