Let’s Try Something New

It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that 2011 is already coming to an end.
I know that it’s cliché to exclaim, “Oh, how the time flies!” but honestly, I can’t think of a more accurate statement. It also doesn’t help that because I’m getting older (and inevitably busier), the time seems to be passing me by faster than ever before.

Funny how that works, isn’t it?

Now that a few holidays are behind us and 2012 will be here in the blink of an eye, it’s time to start planning for the future and making resolutions. I already know that I’ll want to resolve to start working out more (who am I kidding? Start working out period), I’ll force myself into learning how to cook something edible, and I’ll try to be in bed by a decent hour.

Okay, wait.

Even typing this out feels wrong.

Let’s stop here for a moment.

Before we go any further and since we’re just beginning this writer/reader relationship, I feel as though I should be honest with you; therefore, *deep breath* I have to confess something: I have a really bad habit of making New Year’s resolutions that I only kinda-sorta intend to follow through on.

The resolutions that I mentioned above? Yeah, I already know I’m not going to keep those for long.

Good intentions aside, at this point in my life, I know myself. I know that I’m not going to work out every day, I know I’m not going to trade my Ramen noodles in for vegetables, and I know that I’m not going to be in bed by 11pm.

I know these things.

However, every year (it never fails) I can’t help but to think to myself, “This year will be different,” and don’t get me wrong. I do keep these promises – for approximately eight days – after which I find myself stuffing my face with Ramen while sitting on the couch at midnight.

I have a better idea in mind for 2012.

This year, let’s try something new.

Instead of making these types of promises, why don’t I make a promise to myself that I will strive to be better than I was last year? Not by working out or by having a normal sleep schedule, but rather to better myself emotionally and try my hardest to better the world around me.

I’m going to learn to take my dreams seriously and to live in the moment. I mean, REALLY live in the moment. I can get caught up in worrying what tomorrow will bring, but who am I trying to kid? I can’t read minds or predict the future so I’m really not doing anything productive. All I’m doing by stressing out or worrying is simply robbing today of its beauty.

I’m going to put myself out there and I’m going to take chances. I’m going to talk to that cute guy who’s standing in line ahead of me at Starbucks because I’m a big girl who knows how to form sentences with my words. What do I have to be afraid of? If he thinks I’m odd, that’s fine. Chances are I won’t see him again and besides, he probably doesn’t even like 90’s music or crappy reality television anyways. It would never work out.

If you resolve to eat better, work out daily, and sleep when normal people sleep then I applaud you from my computer here in Michigan. I’m positive some people are better at keeping those kinds of resolutions, but not me. Nah, I’m not ready to give up the 10-cent, crinkly blocks of noodles quite yet.

This year, I’m going to bring in 2012 with a smile, great intentions, and promises that I know I’ll keep be able to keep. After all, a smile spreads a lot more joy for me than an hour on the treadmill does.

This new year, what are you resolving to do for yourself?