New Year's Resolections

I’m, like, a huge fan of making up words. Nay. More so combining them. I won’t pretend I’m that clever. If you’re a fan of deciphering word combos, you’ve probably already figured out “resolections” is a combination of “resolution” and “reflection” pluralized. As a consequence, I also love combining couple’s names. I’m a bit convinced I could work for a tabloid. Which is both unfortunate and strangely gratifying.

I know. It’s horrible. But this is me. I’m not sorry.

Back at it: yet another year has passed and I find myself asking the same thing I ask every year since ringing in 2010…Did I get dumped New Year’s Day? Nope? Well then, I’d say it was a mighty fine year. Yes, yes, up until January 1, 2010 my life played out like some sort of sappy, sad rom com.

Okay, let’s be honest…that might have lasted a few months after 2010’s arrival and transformed into a depressing year of a young woman on the verge of spiraling self-deprecation. But that’s what a horrible break-up does to people. My main hobby in 2010 consisted of sitting on the couch watching rom coms, preferably the ones dealing with divorce because I felt I could relate to that pit these characters had dug for themselves by having their lives ruined so prematurely. My favorites to watch were It’s Complicated and When Harry Met Sally. The latter I still watch regularly. I simply adore that movie. Top Five. No shame. It gets me. (Note: If Celeste & Jesse Forever had been around in 2010 I would have been so rapturous.) (Note of a note: I’m listening to the Celeste & Jesse Forever soundtrack on Spotify as I write this because, yes, it was the best movie of 2012 and, yes, it had the best soundtrack. Duh.)

Anyways, since 2010 New Year’s and I have had our differences. Reflecting on last year’s to this year’s I feel like I’ve aged a million years. The remains of a pre-twenty Grace are long washed away and I’ve finally shed that person I so loathed at age nineteen. I would have so not been friends with me. I’ve learned so much within this last year alone, it blows me away. Despite me having a great mentality of loving me because I’m an amazing person, I still screw up on the regular. Discerning, but I’ve reached that psychological peak of not caring. I have the veneer of Perez Hilton. The defense of Thorin Oakenshield’s oaken shield. I feel invincible. Except when I’m feeling vulnerable. But vulnerability in the sense that the best thing to have ever happened to me happened in 2012. I fell in love. With a pretty amazing person. And if vulnerability is creeping on me, it’s worth it for having him in my life.

Enough on reflection, onto resolutions! I have a few. Not too many. First, to recap last year’s resolutions with a strike through the ones I did do:

1. Go to Coachella (HA!)
2. Make a snowman. The most awesome snowman to have ever existed made of Shock Top caps in place of buttons. He was the coolest (hehehe.)
3. Bake/cook food once a week. (Yeah, even that I couldn’t accomplish though I kept it up for almost half the year. My favorite recipe: Curried Pumpkin Soup.)
4. Learn to make a scarf. (Here’s to loom knitting!)
5. Run a 5K. (Huge fail! I will run the Zombie 5K with or without a partner this year.)
6. Volunteer for an organization. (Giant disappointment I didn’t do this. Though not in the same lieu, I did discover Schools on Wheels. I’m starting the program a week after school starts up again. Super excited for this.)
7. Discover a new band/artist. (Among my favorites, an underground rapper my boyfriend told me about called Scienze. My favorite at the moment. A few other favorites include Happy Birthday, The Lumineers, The 1975, Imagine Dragons, Alabama Shakes, Passenger, Kimbra, Kate Earl, and, of course, Frank Ocean. It was a great year for music, so many great finds. Oh, also Young Buffalo. A band my boyfriend introduced me to. He has great taste. Did I mention that? As for artists, I’m smitten with Doren Chapman’s president portraits. Definitely need some for my future classroom.)
8. Go rock climbing. (Uh, yeah. Bad planning on my part.)

This year’s list:

1. Manage my finances better. As in, saving more diligently and making wiser monetary choices.
2. Accomplish 3, 5, and 8 from last year.
3. Go ziplining. Already made sure this is happening. I love Groupon.
4. As boring as it sounds, get in better shape. Eating healthier, Zumba, y’know.
5. Keeping my spirituality in check. Priority.

I really am looking forward to 2013. I know it’ll have its downs, but those ups will outshine them like usual.

Bye, 2012. You were something else.