Starting over

It's the second of 365 days, and yet it feels so fresh.

I want to talk today about a serious subject, but one that is without question a joyful one (or it can be). I want to talk to all of us about starting over.

Starting over again is one of the toughest things a person can be asked to do. But most of us, at one point in our lives, are forced to do exactly that. Whether you're reeling from the loss of a loved one, the estrangement of a partner, or the severance from a job, taking control of your new circumstances is an important part of turning around your life.

If it's a relationship that went belly-up in 2013, here are some tips to get past it.

Lean on your friends and family. Your friends, especially, are a great distraction. Maybe schedule an ice-cream and movie night with your girlfriends, where you watch crummy (but awesome, really) movies with the people who understand you best. Or go out camping with your best buds, where you fish and grill your catch over an open fire (kudos to you if you start it without matches!). Don't drink to forget, for you will simply add to your problems.

Remove from sight all reminders of the love you lost. You don't have to burn all the pictures of your ex-spouse or former love, but you probably should put them away into safe-keeping. Again, the purpose isn't to deny that the other person existed; it's to keep them out of sight and out of mind until you're in a safe enough place emotionally to deal with the fact maturely and responsibly.

It's okay to get away, for a while. If you feel like all of your memories of your former life are tied to one place, consider taking a short vacation. This is about you, so don't be afraid to treat yourself a little. Being in a new place will keep away memories of your former love, at least for a while, and you'll be able to indulge your curiosity like you're a kid in a candy shop. But don't take selfies all over the world. That will just remind you that you don't have anyone on the other end of the camera.

Here's what little I know about things. Worrying about things, stressing about things, trying to fix the unfixable will get you nothing but high blood pressure.

Christ described this act in the following manner: “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?"

Things didn't work out? Move on. Financially. Health-wise. Relationship-wise. Just pack it up, not in, and move on. It happens -- to all of us.