Dear #Positivity Friends,

I was recently reading about year-end traditions around the world and one really got my attention. Before they dive into festivities with family and friends on New Year’s Eve, people in Colombia clean their homes from top to bottom to sweep away negative energy and bad memories and make room for positivity and love in the new year.

What a wonderful idea. This got me asking myself what negative or unpleasant things are we hanging on to that we should sweep away to make way for more good stuff in our lives?

Here’s an example: Say last year I made a goal to lose 20 pounds. I joined a gym, went a bunch of times in January, went a few more times in February, then never went again. I started out with the best intentions but when the needle on the scale didn’t move fast enough, my enthusiasm petered out and now that dog-eared “#LOSETWENTY” Post-It note on my desk just makes me feel bad every time I see it. Where’s the joy in that?

Don’t wallow in disappointment over that long-term goal you didn’t accomplish—set your sights on something you know will make you feel more positive right away. So instead of thinking about the weight I didn’t lose last year, I’m going to go for a 15-minute, mood-boosting walk at lunchtime today! If you sweep away the old goals or rules or expectations you have for yourself that aren’t doing you any good, you can make room for new objectives that are genuinely going to make a positive difference in your life. Oh, and make them doable! If you don’t bite off more than you can chew, you’ll be able to savor every little bit of success you have along the way. 

As always, I hope that you are enjoying my newsletter. If you miss any edition, you can find it on my website. Pass this newsletter along and encourage your family and friends to sign up.

With hope and positivity,

Detroit, Michigan is entering a new era in its long history of automotive innovation. Downtown Detroit’s 14th Street has been equipped with charging coils to charge the batteries of electric vehicles, either as they are parked along the street or while driving on it. Developed by Israeli-based Electreon in collaboration with the State of Michigan, the Michigan Department of Transportation, and other public and private partners, the electrification infrastructure is a two-part installation. Underneath the pavement, an inductive coupling through copper coils provides the charge, while the electric vehicle is equipped with a receiver to trigger the use of the system for charging. There is no harm to wildlife, pedestrians, or non-electric vehicles as they travel over the road. Dr. Stefan Tongur of Electreon says, “We are excited to spearhead the development of America’s first wireless charging road.”

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

The title of this book refers to the approximately 4,000 weeks that an 80-year-old person’s lifetime represents. Putting it this way makes life seem impossibly short, which might explain why we’re always scurrying around and fretting over not having enough time to get everything done we have to do. It turns out that “getting things done” is a modern obsession. Author Oliver Burkeman points the reader to the insights of ancient and contemporary philosophers and spiritual teachers to help us reorient our thinking around the whole of our lives rather than our “to-do” lists. This book will help you learn to accept the unfinished business of your day and seek out the more important outcome of a meaningful life.