New Year Resolutions…So this may seem like another one of those bullshit posts about new year, new you…but it’s not. This is not a personal memorandum on how I will NOW hit the gym, start eating healthier, and miraculously get more sleep. Instead, it’s a personal reflection and 15 reminders on how to kick 2015’s ass based on what worked (and what didn’t work) in 2014.
As this year comes to an end, you can’t help but reflect on all of the ups, downs, and everything in between. Meeting new friends, reuniting with old friends, losing loved ones, experiencing the birth of a child, new jobs, promotions, moving, graduating… you name it, it’s happened to you or someone you know. Regardless of the year we’ve had, no matter how you slice it, 2015 can be even better. I sat down to write some “resolutions” or maybe more so some reminders based on things I’ve seen or experienced this year that I’ll carry with me onto the new year. Not a goal to preach, but if it helps to inspire you to write yours down or use any of mine, then great.
1. Remember the little moments…for they may one day become the most important ones to hold onto.
Take the time to stop and soak in the moment- if you EVER catch yourself thinking about how much fun you’re having – this is the perfect opportunity to capture every single thing about that moment.
2. Be engaged.
No, not that kind of engaged, but engaged in the way that you’re fully committed to whatever it is in front of you. It means that you’re fully committed to the person you’re with at the time – put away your goddamn cellphone if it’s not necessary, pay attention to your present company, and make a meaningful connection.. Be engaged at work – put 100% of your energy into work, and handle the other stuff when you leave. When you’re only there for a short time, make it really count. It’s all about quality of time spent over quantity of time spent. Work your ass off, then reward yourself heavily. We’re only given 24 hours in one day.
3. Age is just a number…
Enjoy your life, doing whatever it is you enjoy doing.
4. True friendship and love stand the test of distance…but it’s also a two-way road. Work on those relationships.
With friends….This may sound absolutely awful, but I make calendar reminders to reach out to certain friends who don’t live nearby and that I won’t run into on a regular basis. They are important people in my life, so instead of relying on my memory, which most likely will get sidetracked by work, I set up reminders for people’s birthdays, anniversaries, and literally to text/call/email them. It’s been somewhat effective, but I need to get better at hitting the snooze button on those reminders.
With love…yeah, I will definitely take back what I ever said or thought about long-distance relationships. It will definitely work with enough communication, visits, understanding, and a ton of elbow grease. 🙂
5. Invest in and make people you care about a priority- No one is ever too busy for those who really matter.
Sorry, but there just is not enough time to make EVERYONE a priority ALL OF THE TIME, so focus on the people that matter the most and give them your time and attention. It’s a cruel and unfortunate result of juggling so many balls in the air, but important to do.
6. You can’t win over everyone’s affection, so stop trying.
Accept the fact that not everyone is going to like you…because, can you honestly say you like everyone? Be true to yourself first.
Also, accept the fact that people change (and sometimes for the bad). You can’t keep holding on to an idea of who you want them to be, instead, let go of that toxicity, and move the hell on. Life keeps going, at least you can hold onto the memories of when things were good.
7. Be grateful and be kind.
You’ll be amazed at the people you’re able to allow into your life.
Snowboarding Trip – some of the best strangers I ever met.
8. Remember that money is best spent on experiences, not things.
I’m a firm believe that experiences are the only things you spend money on that actually make you richer. Travel as much as you can, take advantage of everything this world has to offer.
9. Always say “see you later” on a good note
As morbid as this may sound, you’re really only guaranteed today. Don’t hold grudges and end things on a bad note, you may never have the opportunity to make things right. If you’re fighting with someone, ask yourself, is it really that worth the time and energy to stay angry? Yeah, probably not.
10. Document your experiences through a journal or pictures.
How could you possibly retain all those details in your brain? This is something I really need to work on more this year. Keeping notes, taking pictures, and blogging have really been helpful.
11. Allow yourself to fall in love even if it doesn’t seem like the right place or right time, follow your heart.
12. Learn and perfect the art of leaving a party- the French exit.
Ahh, this is kind of mean, but super effective way to leave a party. This is probably going to be the only way I’ll leave any party greater than 8-10ish people (depending on the situation). Don’t say goodbye, just leave. A+ for efficiency, and not dealing with the hassle of being convinced to stay.
13. You should only compete with yesterday’s version of you.
14. Be smart about social media usage.
I am for sure pro social media for its ability to broaden our world and connect people to things and people from all over the place. I am NOT a fan of the multitude of negative affects it has on [insert a huge number here] of individuals who use it. I’m talking about the people who catch themselves spending hours a day scrolling through Instagram photos or their Twitter feed instead of working or spending time with other HUMANS. I’m talking about the person in some desolate, poverty-stricken country that is more concerned with what they don’t have because they are viewing the lives of a rich, bratty girl through Photoshop and filters, versus trying to make opportunities for herself. And I’m even talking about the people who become mentally affected by social media- whether that be through cyberbullying, validating your self-worth through Facebook likes (is Facebook even a relevant example anymore?) or having relationships with other people online.
It can’t kill us to have more face-to-face interaction with others, and it can’t kill us to have back our time to do anything else more productive/fun/productive, right? Did I say productive?
15. Everything in moderation – Have dessert, but don’t eat the whole f*cking cake.
Cheers everyone to an amazing year, filled with love, health, and happiness!
