Happy New Year, my friends!
The holidays have come and gone. Some of us can finally breathe and some of us are going to leave those yard inflatables lying flat out front for a little too long.
I have been a victim of my own optimism when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. It’s kind of alarming how easily we trick ourselves into thinking everything that is a habit is inherently wrong and the reason we aren’t happy, healthy, financially prosperous, and don’t look a certain way.
So – say it with me, put down the green smoothie you probably don’t want to even think about drinking, take a deep breath, stop scrolling, and let’s laugh for a second!
Let me put a poorly timed but equally hilarious disclaimer out there: Absolutely nothing is that deep. We have free will. It will be 75 degrees in two months! Soon, it won’t be dark before you lock up the office at night. Small victories!
Here is what my extremely wise 22-year-old self thinks your New Year’s resolutions say about you.
Alright, let’s start off strong. We’re going to hit the gym more! Eat cleaner! Finally fit into that pair of archaic skinny jeans your teenage daughter will roll her eyes at if you do end up getting them zipped. You are tired of looking in the mirror (even though we’re all convinced that all mirrors are warped and sold to us by the Kardashians or some rich plastic surgeon somewhere) and you’re ready to buckle down and make a change. I love it! Let’s do it.
Here’s the thing though: No amount of rings closed on an Apple Watch or healthy recipes you snip from a women’s health magazine are going to change the way you feel about yourself. Do it for you! Whether you make it a habit, or go for two weeks, or until you decide to take the walk of shame into Planet Fitness to cancel your new membership, I’m proud of your effort!
Next on our list: personal development. Learning a new language, reading more, meditating, volunteering (so many exciting “-ing” verbs fall under this umbrella!). Maybe you promised your spouse you’d finally take that trip if you both learned the history, culture, and language. Maybe you became an empty nester in 2024 and desperately are trying to find yourself again, even if you find it in a new way.
These are my favorite resolutions. These are by far the trickiest ones, and feel like climbing Mount Everest at times for sure, but there is something so admirable about realizing that you deserve and need change in order to become your best self. I am the proud owner of a Kindle that truly re-sparked my love for literature, and highly recommend finding your own path to passions old and new.
Last, but not least, for my DIY-ers. Finally redoing that upstairs bathroom? Yes, let’s peel and stick wallpaper on that wall; it can’t be that hard! (I have personally seen couples almost divorce over that God-forsaken peel and stick wallpaper. It unfortunately looks amazing though, so it will not be the last time that argument occurs.)
I will let you in on a secret that is not secret at all: I am not handy. I am not even relatively close to being handy. I have a “great eye” or whatever, but I genuinely think that’s because I inherited my mother’s great taste. However, my father is the type of person who I think would rather eat a jean jacket than leave me to hang a piece of expensive artwork.
I admire wanting to finish an undone task, but consider this my plea: If you are not a plumber, do not pretend that it is “common sense.” Let’s read that one more time with big eyes: If you are not a plumber, do not pretend that plumbing is “common sense.”
In a world where art, color, design, and trends are ever changing, sometimes it’s more than fun to make a switch in your home. You feel the way your space does. I am very lucky to have an amazing coworker who helps me clean our office space weekly. It is because of her that I am able to keep it all moving.
And it is because of one spectacular high school creative writing teacher that every time I put the seven throw-pillows I bought during a very productive HomeGoods panic attack, I am reminded: If you want to change the world, you must first make your bed.
I could go on and on for days about the ridiculously awesome and just plain ridiculous resolutions I stumbled upon while writing this, but I think we covered our bases and everyone can dip a toe into the water if y’all catch my drift.
Honorable mention to those doing look changes – I condone everything but bangs. Not curtain bangs; I’m talking about the Cleopatra forehead bangs. Those are a desperate call for help.
I wish you all nothing but the absolute best as we move into this New Year. The best part of it for some is the unknown, but I’m not much of a go-with-the-flow gal. I like to know when the flow starts and what is the flow’s dress code.
So … cheers, I guess! However you spend your January, I hope it’s a great one.
