Happy (Real) New Year

Welcome Back!

For many people, this is the first day back to work and/or school in 2009! It is a known fact that the days immediately proceeding New Years are some of the most depression-filled of the year (I know, way to start off on a positive foot). This is because in the preceeding weeks we probably ate too much, drank like an alcoholic, and celebrated with certain family members and wondered "why me?". We reminisced of loves lost and thought about how much crack we must have been smoking to waste precious moments with such a weirdo and we promised ourselves that this would be the year that we finally "get over it." We spent too much on presents for people who didn't give us anything, we forgot to make that last credit card payment of the year (there goes my FICO score!), and our migraines are getting stronger just thinking about it.

But, New Year's represents hope.

And so on December 31st, we came up with a long list of resolutions meant to get us back on track--"Start the New Year right!"--we told ourselves, and so we made some (or all) of the following resolutions:

- I will lose [insert unattainable number] pounds by [insert ridiculously short time frame].
- I will not spend more than I make [until I can no longer manage the emotional hole in my heart without the aid of a credit card].
- I will go to church on Sundays [until that pesky habit I have of getting drunk on Saturdays and waking up next to random people of the opposite sex rears its ugly head] .
- I will seek a career change [until I realize it may take years to achieve the job of my dreams, in which I will do nothing, and stay miserable].
- I will stop smoking [but weed will not count. Neither will drunken cigarette binges].
- I will make new friends who are positive and inspirational [but always defer back to the ones that enable me in all my bad habits].
- If single: I will cut off all ex's [until I drunk dial them].

- If in an committed relationship: I will end it if he doesn't shape up by Valentine's Day [and if I do end it, I will probably realize that can't do better, in which case, I will come crawling back].


So instead, this year, I have opted to make smaller, less life-altering goals that will improve my character and bring me closer to the person I would like to be. Some are a stretch, but that's what goals are for, right?

Here they go:

- Write a little everyday, even if its just one sentence in my journal.

- Tell the people that I love how much I really care (and it can't be said too often). Make time for my family and friends, especially those that have been there for me over the years.

- Stop deleting men from my phone when I am upset, especially if I don't have the number memorized. It ends with me going through old cell phone bills and this is never good for my dignity. In a related vein, stop wanting him to fall madly in love with you. If he is the one, you will know. If he isn't, there will be another.

- Do things for others, without expecting anything in return. Volunteer again. Stop thinking about myself all the damn time, and realize how good I really have it.

- Be open and honest, stop hiding from difficult conversations because they make me sweat a little.

- Exercise everyday, even if its just a walk around the block (put the doritios down!)

Again, welcome back. Good luck with your own personal resolutions.... and Happy (Real) New Year!