Well another year is over and it's time to take a look back at what that year meant for us (just a short look because dwelling two much on the past keeps us from improving in the present). Did we accomplish our goals for the year? Did we even have goals? Did we really accomplish anything at all this year? Anything significant? If not, then maybe we need to make some changes in how we do things and in how we plan things.
    When other people needed help, did we offer it? If we say someone struggling to lift something, did we try to help or did we pull out a cell phone and make a video of it for youtube? About a week ago, they were showing a video on The Weather Channel of cars sliding around on an icy hill and smashing into other cars. Eventually people blocked off the street and some were trying to help those who had crashed, but I didn't see a single person running out with a bucket of sand, kitty litter, or ice melter to throw in the street and reduce the sliding. 
    When we made mistakes, did we try our best to correct it or did we try to hide it or shift the blame to someone else? Yes everyone makes mistakes and were all human, but if we just shrug it off and don't learn from our mistakes, we are doomed to keep repeating them.
    In short, if we want the new year to be better than the last one, we have to honestly look at how this past year went for us and decide what we can do to make next year better, both materially and spiritually.