As another year draws to a close, I enjoy taking stock of the experiences I’ve had, the blessings I’ve received, and the relationships I’ve shared. In a society that seems driven to “go, go, go,” it’s good for one’s health to stop and reflect on where we’ve been, instead of continuously focusing on what we haven’t yet accomplished or achieved. The richest people are those who cherish what they have in the present moment.

In 2018, I was fortunate to add another year to a long and rewarding career, yet the gift I am most grateful for is that of being connected in health to all of you—my real and virtual friends and family, my patients, and all of the people who have helped to make Murad a global phenomenon devoted to health and beauty from the inside-out.

My patients, in particular, hold a special place in my heart. They are the ones who’ve inspired me to be a better doctor, a more diligent researcher, a more outspoken champion for modern wellness (which means, most of all, to combat stress), and a kinder, more compassionate human being. Theirs are the stories I’ve shared in the “little books” in my Health and Happiness and Surviving Cultural Stress series.

It was a 75-year-old patient who lost his business, for example, who inspired me to write, The Best Is Yet to Come. Instead of retiring in defeat, my patient discovered that the best part of his life was just beginning. I learned from his example that, with the right attitude and a few simple changes in lifestyle, we, too, can find that The Best Is Yet to Come.

As you look back on the year behind you and welcome the year ahead, may you be grateful for the good you’ve experienced. And may the year ahead demonstrate to you, as well, that the best is yet to come.