Second guessing ourselves is something we all do. You know you do it, and I know I do it. Heck, I’m even second guessing writing this blog about second guessing. And, at the end of the year, this silly little phenomenon seems to happens even more. We take a look at our lives, compare them with where we thought we would be, what we thought we wanted to do, and we doubt our decisions – we beat ourselves up. It’s a foolish game we play with our minds that, most of the time, doesn’t end very well.

So, for 2014, here’s my advice: YOU DO YOU! Be yourself! Do what makes you happy, surround yourself with good people and happy thoughts – and follow your dreams! Because if you don’t do it for yourself, no one else will. Explore the world, learn empathy – not “facts” – from the media, dream big, and find the good in everyone around you. To me, that’s what the world is about – it’s not about doubting your dreams and decisions, belittling the people around you or getting a paycheck. Life is about living with passion, hope and love. And these are the things you should be reflecting on as we move into 2014.

If you are wondering how you are going to do this in the new year, you should come to Detroit. I guarantee you will have no problem finding people following their dreams with love, hope and passion. People who know the negatives but hope for the positives. People who don’t live in the past, but understand it and hope for a better future. Detroit is the place where you can follow your dreams. As we move towards the end of 2013 and into 2014, I realize how much this fellowship has taught me – through not only the workshops and practical work experience, but through the people that surround me every day. My peers, neighbors and co-workers are not afraid to follow their passion, show their love for where they live and work hard to move forward. They accept the past and charge ahead, smiling every step of the way.

So think about what made you happy in 2013 and do more of that in 2014. Be yourself and live with passion – you won’t second guess that decision, I promise.