By Chris Quilpa

Tempus fugit. How time flies! It’s almost 2018 (the year of the dog in Chinese calendar).

Goodbye, 2017. Thanks for all the memories you brought into our lives. Welcome, 2018. The new year will certainly be full of challenges and surprises for you and me. We can only hope for a better world in which peace, prosperity and harmony abound.

Carpe diem! Seize the day — the present moment, the most important moment in your life, which is now. You’re alive, breathing and presently reading this piece of mine.

If you have something in mind to do, do it now, for as the saying goes, don’t wait for tomorrow what you can do today, this very moment. Tomorrow is today, right now. If you put off until tomorrow what you can do today, it may not happen. So do it now.

The past is gone. There’s nothing you can do about it except to look back and reminisce those memories, sweet and sad, good or bad. But then, move on and do what you’ve planned to do now.

Cook your favorite dish. Clean and organize your house. Get rid of clutters that only accumulate dust and occupy space. We’re guilty of this, because we love to buy and collect stuff, especially when they’re on sale.

Sing if you feel like singing, even if you’re out of tune. Who cares if you didn’t get the right tempo or tune? Dance if you feel like dancing at the moment, with or without music. Just create music in your head and be happy you did. Eat or drink whatever you’re craving and not regret you did. Life is too short to be worrying too much about calories and consequences. Do what makes you happy at this time — now.

Write or speak if you have ideas to share; read a book, a poem, a story or a novel if you feel like doing it. Or listen to a classical music or a song of praise that you learned in church. Or meditate if you so desire, because you value peace and silence.

Be out there in the open to breathe fresh air, feel and hear the pulse of the morning sun, mist or fog, rain or snow. Appreciate the beauty of nature that surrounds you. Be glad and grateful, and overwhelmed by the beauty of creation, the wonders of God in small things, the birds on leafless trees, on the ground, or the little children innocently enjoying their time with others or family members. Travel if you can and learn from it.

Do what makes you alive, happy and well, now and not later on. Remember this: Only you can live your life to the fullest, with or without spouse or partner. So live it well while you can and do your best. After all, life is what you make it — now.

Time flies. So seize the moment. Make every moment of your life meaningful, with your spouse, partner or significant other, if you’re married, or with other family members and friends.

Goodbye 2017, and welcome 2018 with hope, faith, love and optimism.

What does 2018 have in store for you? Will there be challenges and surprises? Absolutely. But one thing is certain, my friend: There will be changes, because change is inevitable in life. Our attitude to change surely will make or break us. Such change has to start with you.

Have a blessed new year.

Chris A. Quilpa, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, lives in Suffolk. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com.