Resolutions.

As I prepare to say toodle-loo to 2009, I find myself partaking in the annual ritual of determining a New Years Resolution. My past resolutions have been pretty standard: lose weight, get healthy, be neater, stop procrastinating. I always do pretty well until about March when all is lost and my resolution is no more. This year I've determined that my resolution should be intrinsically motivating. Success will not be measured in the image I see in the mirror, a number on a scale, or by anything externally and superficially visible. This year I want my resolutions to change me and better me from the inside.

Now, I know this sounds cheesy but bare with me. In keeping with the whole intention of this blog (which I might add has been conveniently neglected from recent posts)... my goal is to continue trying to maintain a positive attitude and always find the beauty in life's daily adventures. Being a busy grad student and living in a hectic, expensive city with nothing but federal loans and your momma's pity (aka monthly groceries-thanks mommy!) to get you by, its easy to become overwhelmed with life's daily struggles. I often find myself getting hung up on the fact that I am stuck in this limbo between the fun carefee days of undergrad and the independence and grown up aspirations that come from being employed. Basically, I= full time grad student + full time employee - income - all the fun aspects of being in college.

Being so busy and not reaping much in the way extrinsic benefits from your hard work (aka dollar bills) makes it easy to lose motivation, get fed up, and not give life the best you've got. Combine this calculation with a tendency towards occasional cynism, stubbornnes, and sarcasm and you're headed straight for disaster.

Alas, I have compiled a short list of Resolutions for 2010 that I hope to help me get through the final stages of grad school, the job searching process, and the transition to actual adulthood and independence WITHOUT losing my mind and losing sight of the simple, pleasurable, fantastic things in life. Without further ado...

1. Read the Bible cover-to-cover
2. Document the occurence of something positive daily (this blog might be just the place for such a task...)
3. Reaffirm and recommit myself to many of the relationships in my life. (I've been known to do a very inadequate job of investing time and energy into relationships when my own life gets hectic. This disappoints me and I'd love to reestablish many of the bonds I've had with friends and loved ones-some that I still see on a regular basis- I love my friends and I want them to know that).
4. Partake in adventures on a regular basis (I've got a bucket-list of sorts that'll do just the trick...)

Anyway- that should suffice for a healthy dose of positivity and cheesiness for one day. I realize that this all sounds a tiny bit rediculous but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to get through the day. I'm gonna give this a shot.

Meanwhile, it wouldn't hurt me to resolve to be a little bit tidier...I'll give that some consideration too.