2011 - Bring it on!

I love the start of a new year because it’s so full of potential.

When you’ve had a really shit year like my friend, Nancy, the new year is a fresh start and there is no way it can be anything but superior to the previous year. I can’t wait to see the good stuff that 2011 is going to bring the Knight sisters.

And when you’ve had a great year like my friend Segars, who got engaged to a super hot and brilliant man, it doesn’t seem like anything can trump 2010, except for maybe her wedding in Puerto Rico in February 2011 and the long awaiting production of her soon to be husband’s sure to be mind blowing film. Keep on rocking it, Segs, no one deserves these good times more than you.

For me, 2010 was fine. There were great days and there were crap days. It wasn’t my best year, but it’s not even in contention for my worst. Compared to some of my years, 2010 was definitely good.

Still, I want 2011 to be even better. Not because I plan on being thinner or more successful or wealthier – although I will gladly take any and all of those things if they come my way – but because I just want to be happier more regularly.

You see, I consider myself to be a happy person in general. For the most part, I love my life. My husband is gorgeous and hilarious and a great father. My boys are not exactly angels but their wild ways give me a lot of laughs and their adorable faces force me to cut them more slack then they probably deserve. If you saw them, you wouldn’t blame me. Their cuteness is a weapon of mass destruction. I have great friends – and lots of them, many who I don’t see nearly enough but when I need them I know they’ll be here and that gives me a lot of comfort. I have the “luxury” of being home with my kids and because of the online classes that some days I feel might kill me, I have a plan for what I’ll do when they’re both in school and a plan has always been something that’s very important to me. Like Hannibal on The A Team, I love it when a plan comes together and I must admit, most of mine do.

But despite all these blessings, I find myself happy only maybe 75 to 80% of a year and frankly, I just don’t think that’s enough. So in 2011, I’m going for 90 to 95% happiness. I’d go for 100% but I just think that’s unrealistic because in 365 days there has to be at least a couple where you feel fat or someone lets you down or you lose someone or watch someone you care about lose someone and those days are going to suck. There is nothing we can do about that.

However, I think I can strive to up my happiness by letting go of some of the bullshit I’ve been hanging on to. I have some real unhealthy habits that it’s time to say goodbye to. And there are some good things in my life that I need to make more of a priority. So here, are the changes I’ll be making in 2011.

• I will no longer watch sad movies on purpose. Do you hear that Nicole Kidman and The Rabbit Hole? I will not be seeing you. Ever.

• I will see the friends I don’t see enough. And I will see them for fun, not because someone died. When you get to be 40 and you have two kids and no time, sometimes it seems that the only reunions you have time for in life involve a wake. That is not how it should be. And in 2011 it is not how it’s going to be. Not for me anyhow, so watch out pals I never see. You’re going to be sick of my ass by 2012.

• I will let go of hard feelings. I try to do this every year but, damn, it is hard. In 2011, though, I think I’m going to be like Lauren Conrad…forgive everyone, and then forget them. At least the bad parts, because I’m someone who can remember the good parts of even the people I can’t fully forgive. And I feel lucky for that because there were great parts to a lot of people who aren’t in my life anymore and I will always cherish those. And the bad parts, I’m not someone who can forget them enough to wipe the slate clean, but I think I can forget them enough to think fondly about those people again. At least I’m going to try.

• I’ll win a contest. I really want to win something so if anyone has a challenge, bring it. I’m in. As long as it doesn’t involve winking or whistling cause I can’t do those things.

• I’ll send people surprise gifts or cards. I do this already, but I’m going to do it more cause today I got a surprise gift in the mail from a friend and it was awesome. Mail rocks. Knowing someone is thinking of you rocks. The little things in life rock. And I’m gonna do more of them.

• I will stop denying what I like because someone else doesn’t agree. I adore the movie Love Actually and someone I was close to once told me that my love for this movie made me seem dumber. Seriously? Cause I actually love this movie. And the only thing that has ever made me seem dumb is my boobs which I’ve had reduced so cut me a break, okay? And by the way, how can anyone put down a movie that’s main objective is to show us that if you really look for it, love is all around? A closeted guy who feels guilty about being in a long term monogamous relationship with a woman, that’s who. Damn it, I already fucked up that letting go of grudges thing! I’m taking this one as a mulligan and will restart the no grudges thing on Jan 1, okay?

• I’ll say no to my kids less. I’m sure the idea of that is scary to people who know that I live in a zoo run by two rugrats but those two rugrats aren’t going to be little forever and I don’t want their childhood memories of me to involve someone who constantly said no. I worry about that a lot and I have the stress eczema to prove it. Yes, in case you’re wondering, it’s eczema on my neck - I haven’t been attacked by dogs.

• Speaking of animals, I’ll continue to hate cats and I won’t be sorry for it because, sorry, cats suck.

• I’ll get involved in politics again. My family made fun of me for wanting to save the whales as a small child and it made me want to back off of causes, which I admit, was pretty weak of me. And then I worked at a company for almost 10 years with a bunch of super vocal liberals who did everything short of leaving a horse head in your bed if they thought you disagreed with their politics so I’ve kind of shied away from talking about mine. But in 2011, that’s over. Because I have some things to say that I’ve been holding in since about 1984 and it’s high time they came out. Oh yeah, and if you didn't know it, I'm a Republican and a Catholic. Deal with it.
  
• I’ll keep trying to contact my brothers because one day they’ll remember we’re family. Or at least if they don’t, I won’t have to feel bad about giving up on them cause giving up is not something I do. Not in 2011 or ever.
  
  I don’t know if all of this is going to change 2011. And I’m not even sure if someone who was happy 80% of 2010 should even be complaining. I mean, 80% is pretty good, right? But why can’t I have 95? Why can’t we all? Watch out 2011 because I’m about to James Franco your ass.
  
  Happy New Year!