The first few days of the New Year are upon us.
This can only mean one thing:
New. Year. Obligatory. Post.
Just in case the other 97627346 bloggers, hard-hitting CNN journalists (seriously – CNN – sometimes I think you’re punking me with your absurd headlines), and, as I found out today… , USA.GOV New Year’s Resolution website (what???) didn’t offer the right amount of predictable inspiration, I’m offering my two cents here.
Truthfully, I am a fan of this topic and New Year’s in general.
The ending of a year and the starting of a brand spanking new blank slate is pretty exciting. It’s like the first day of school (brand new notebooks!!).
However, I don’t believe you can start a new chapter/list/notebook before you’ve properly closed off the previous one.
Last night, during a dinner party, one of the seven guests suggested we go around the table and have everyone say their “Best and Worst of 2013.”
The answers were real. Some were funny. All prompted reflection. The worst: losing a job, learning of a family member’s illness, losing a pet; The best: passing an important exam, meeting newly special people, finding a new job.
In similar fashion, for today’s post, I’ve decided to recycle a popular idea I used a few months ago called The Reverse Bucket List and write a reverse New Year’s resolution list for 2013.
The following is a list of some self-improvements, goals, and personal attainments of 2013 (and, when appropriate, illustrative photos):
1) Put effort into becoming closer with family members; find time to get to know extended family
Meeting second cousins for brunch
2) Separate emotionally from surrounding drama
3) Get back out on that ice and start figure skating/training/coaching again
Back on the ice – starting a session
4) Furnish/decorate an apartment from scratch
The completed “living room” in my first personal apartment
5) Travel abroad for an “extended” vacation; leave worries/computers/cell phones behind
Taking it easy in Naxos, Greece
6) Pick up a new fitness hobby
Attending Flywheel classes with friends
7) Cook for myself more – learn to make new healthy staples
Yummy salad with homemade dressing
8) Take advantage of new city
Hanging off the ledge at Sears Tower
9) Take advantage of new found proximity to family (with move to Chicago) and spend more time with little sister
Roller-coastering with lil sis
10) Take steps to show some semblance of putting yourself first
11) Learn to say no
12) Bring down the mile-high fence/barricade/guard and give trust and a new relationship a chance
Ice skating at the zoo in Chicago. It snowed. A friend snapped this when we weren’t looking.
Decidedly, 2013 was pretty good to me.
A great portion of the positive in 2013 stemmed from this blog. Writing these posts, however inconsequential they may seem, has come to be a huge part of my life. I love connecting with readers from my backyard as well as all over the world. I love reading what others are generating. I love finding commonalities.
So thank you, friends, for making 2013 Awesome.
I think I’m ready for 2014.
Cheers!
