2011=New(Year+Age+Project)

January: REFRESH

re·fresh verb \ri-ˈfresh\
1. to update or renew
2. to restore strength or energy to, to reinvigorate

As the clock strikes midnight on every December 31st, turning the page to a January 1st in a brand new year, I also become another year older. I am a New Year’s baby, so the concept of a “new year” holds extra weight in my world. While it’s a birthday that generally sounds cooler than it is, and most people spend my birthday hungover from their “better plans,” I do like that at any given point in a year, I know exactly how old I am. You give me the year, I’ll give you my age – it doesn’t matter what month. And in 2011, I’m 28.

The annual tradition of New Year’s Resolutions offers people a chance to look at their lives and consider what to improve, what to fix, what to refresh. I’m not that big on making resolutions, myself – mainly because I know they almost always turn good intentions into guilt over failing to follow through. It could be only me, but I suspect this might ring true for more than just a few people reading this. However, this year, in an attempt to hold myself more accountable and maybe, just maybe, to actually stick to one or two, I will lay a few out for all to read:

1. Floss. This is something I always tack onto a resolutions list. If I do it a handful more times this year than I did last, I’ll consider myself a raving success.

2. Exercise more. Everyone says this. I honestly just hope to use my little iron gym more and be able to do 10 legit pull-ups by the end of the year. Ok, fine… ideally I’d also like to just be in better shape overall with more strength, flexibility and stamina.

3. Learn French. I got the Rosetta Stone for this ages ago and fell out of the routine when I moved. I want to get back into it since languages are awesome and I wish I was fluent in at least three.

4. Brush up on Spanish. I might as well try to get my Spanish back in decent form because it’s the one foreign language I came closest to actually knowing.

5. Weed out and organize my wardrobe. At least twice a year I resolve to finally do this. And at least twice a year I fail miserably. If I can actually accomplish this goal by April, I’ll be shocked, amazed and super proud of myself.

6. Redecorate my bedroom. This was actually my initial goal for the REFRESH month. I want to freshen up the look and finally add some polish to my bedroom. (If I make considerable strides with this, I may post an update to show off the transformation.)

So there you have it. Another year, another year older, another project, another skeeball season (starts on the 20th!)… and another excuse to improve and refresh my life with goals for 2011 and beyond. This year has already begun with lots of fun and some nice surprises that remind me how powerful a positive attitude can be. I’m happy, and it’s giving me the strength to look forward with less anxiety and more gumption.

A final note: a friend of mine has a blog called The Unbreakable Man Laws. It’s a humorous set of “laws” that attempt to guide your typical hetero man through the big bad sea of female fishes with some general advice as well as strict do’s and don’t's. While I don’t always agree with his take on women and dating, I really enjoyed – and agreed with – his latest post, Fortune Favors the Bold! Too often, people fall victim to imagining the worst and being too timid to take steps toward achieving a goal. Personally, I’ve often wished I had more courage to take on the ol’ “leap and the net will appear” approach to life. So this year, I’m going to try really hard to remember that fear of going down the wrong path shouldn’t stop me. One can change direction while in motion if need be, but you can’t get anywhere without starting to move. Every journey begins with a single step. So take one.

by candice  January 10, 2011