Our students are starting off on the right foot in 2018.

Originally Published January, 2018

The world over, people look to the start of each new year for luck, prosperity, and a fresh start. In Scotland, the New Year is called Hogmany, and is celebrated with many exciting customs and traditions including singing, dancing, fife and drum bands, sharing food and drink, fireworks (and even swinging actual balls of fire), and the traditional practice of “first footing.” According to this tradition, the first visitor to a home after midnight at the New Year determines the luck that will befall that family in the year to come. First-footers usually try to increase the luck they bring by giving gifts, including silver coins, bread, salt, coal, and special drinks; these gifts represent luck, prosperity, warmth, and good cheer.

One New Year’s tradition in our country is the making of resolutions. A resolution is a promise to do something—usually something that you feel will make you a better and happier person. You could resolve to eat healthier, exercise more, save more money, or to be more patient, loving, understanding, and kind (all great resolutions). Or you could resolve to treat every new day as a fresh start, and before you set out each day, you could resolve to put your best foot forward and do your best in everything. Look to your shoes as a daily reminder. As you put them on, listen and you might hear them whisper encouragingly, “Today is a fresh start, a new adventure. Set out with enthusiasm, one foot in front of the other (in fact, neither foot is best), and put your best self forward; be the best you that you can be.” Along the way, there will be opportunities to improve–to become an even better you. If challenges come your way, take them. If feedback is offered, accept it. And if something goes wrong, try to view it as an opportunity. Tomorrow is another day—a fresh start, a new beginning. When you do these things, you will likely find that good things start happening for you. You will also find that you feel happier and luckier. Eventually you will find that when you put your best you forward, you bring your own good fortune.