by Sylvia Ford George

Don’t spend too much time stressing over what you weren’t able to accomplish this week, this month or this year. Spend time instead invoking ways to make the year ahead bigger, better, brighter. Following are my picks for the worst and best of 2012.

Worst of 2012

The shooting of Trayvon Martin; nasty political rivalries; life altering hurricanes; devastating mass shootings; public education in urban neighborhoods; crime rates in most of our nation’s large urban cities; outsourcing of America’s jobs; and reality TV—including real housewives from Atlanta, Basketball, Beverly Hills, DC, Miami, Mob, New Jersey, New York City, and Orange County; Maury Povich and Jerry Springer. Plus, the passing of those we admired, including: Andy Griffith, Chris Lighty, Dick Clark, Don Cornelius, Donna Summers, Etta James, Helen Gurley Brown, Michael Clark Duncan, Mike Wallace, Richard Dawson, Rodney King, Sally Ride, Sherman Hemsley, Vidal Sassoon, Whitney Houston, and Yvette Wilson.

Best of 2012

Adding to MosaMuse’s picks of Nicole Richie – head turning hair diva of the year, Solange Knowles – breakout style star of the year, Janelle Monae – best explanation of style, and Yayoi Kusama – most exciting fashion collaboration, Aunt Sylvia would like to add: President Obama – comeback kid of the year. Michelle Obama – mother, role model and fashionista of the year. T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle – family of the year. Steve Harvey on Family Feud – can’t stop watching! Oprah’s Next Chapter – very enlightening. Iyanla Vanzant – reinvented woman of the year. Plus, MosaMuse & You.

MosaMuse for providing the platform, setting the mood, taking us in, treating us as BFF’s and imparting the straight talk, wisdom and knowledge we need to get our entrepreneurial swag on. And YOU for exploring your hopes, dreams and desires; facing challenges and finding ways to overcome them, (while knowing how to put your best face and fashion sense & style forward).

The best part of 2012 was our willingness to grow, mature, improve. To think of others almost as much as we thought of ourselves. Let’s make 2013 better by positioning ourselves closer to the success we’re dreaming of by dreaming bigger, finding the right mentors, and allowing ourselves time to grow. Let’s keep learning, styling, eating and living healthy. Let’s keep peeking MosaMuse for the self-improvement, relationships, home, style and beauty, inspiration, news, fashion, travel, career, entrepreneurship, life, and dream building posts that keep us motivated. Let’s stay respectful of self and others. Let’s stay ladylike and strong. Let’s enjoy the start of the New Year and stay hopeful for the year to come.