Resoluting

It’s that time again. It’s hard to believe that I started this blog a year ago. It never got to the point that I wanted that point where I would call it a success. That’s a bummer, I won’t lie, but I learned a ton. I’m not sure the future of this blog, but I think it’ll be what I first meant it to be and that was a upcycling DIY blog, but we’ll have to see. For now I’d like to say thank you to all the people who have been following me through the good and the bad, the positive and negative. And to my mom who read even the crummiest of posts and who made everything I’ve done possible.

And so it’s time for my favorite time of the year, New Years. The time that makes me feel a bit hopeful because it makes me feel like if I really try, I can make the change I’ve always wanted to. Last year I wanted to be able to run a 5k. That soooo did not happen. It’s pathetic, but I’ve got a new plan. And I did make it through the apocalypse, so that’s something.

This year I will make the following resolutions:

1. I will only have one Dr. Pepper. I need to explain this. I didn’t actually resolute to not drink soda, and it’s not like I drank it all the time, but maybe a couple a year or so, but I wanted to be healthier and stop supporting evil corporations and it just kind of happened. I may have had a few sips here and there, but it was so long ago and since I didn’t actually resolute, I don’t know for sure if I ever had one or not, but I’m pretty sure a full pop bottle was never in my hand. For the last few months, I’ve been craving my poison of choice like something terrible and it’s been EVERYWHERE. Every family occasion, every junk food machine (luckily, when my willpower just happened to slip, I never seemed to have any money), every party, everywhere I turn it’s been there just within my reach. I was so close and I had been so good for so long that I just couldn’t give up the willpower. So this week or maybe when school starts, whenever I get a chance that poison is mine, but then that’s it. For another year.
2. I’m not giving up on my dreams of being able to run a 5k. I’ve tried several programs and one of two things happens. A, there are too many people at the gym and just can’t get up the courage to look like such a loser. Or B, I start to run and then I realize how much of a loser I am because I can’t even make it to the certain point before I start gasping for air, so I just quit before I give too many people a change to notice. I don’t have enough patience with myself and I need to get over it or I’ll never be able to run a stupid 5k.
3. Ride my bike more. There are a few reasons why I don’t ride my bike everywhere. I won’t bore you with them, but I’m hoping to find some answers out there on this great World Wide Web.
4. Write down every good thing that happens on a piece of paper and put it in a jar. I’ve seen this idea floating around. It’s kind of cheesy, but kind of cool. I don’t know if I’m going to be able to keep up because every time I get a monthly, weekly, daily calendar I can’t even keep up with flipping the thing, but that’s what new year’s is about…trying new things. Then at the end of the year, you take out all of the notes and read them all.
5. I think…I’m going to keep a journal. I’ve never been able to keep up with it and I’ve never really wanted to, but I think way, way too much and instead of just keeping those thoughts locked up tight, I think it would be healthier to at least get them out somewhere. Plus, I think it will help me get out of deadening writer’s block rut.

I do hope you guys have a happy New Year and feel free to leave a comment about your resolutions.

New Year’s Resolutions

I always find myself being strangely optimistic when the New Year comes around.  It seems like most people I know never seem to keep their promises to themselves and that makes me kind of sad.  I think I’m pretty good about keeping my resolutions, but that didn’t start till after I stopped making those promises like ‘I’m going to make all A’s this year,’ or something else stupid that I really didn’t care about.  I’ve always been a B average student and although I’ve tried to change that, I just don’t care enough to really put in the effort.  I think that’s why most people don’t have make through the year, or even a week, without breaking their resolutions. They don’t pick anything they really care about or choose to change something they really despise about themselves; instead they come up with something stupid just to say they have one.  And by the way, somebody told me they didn’t have one and it just made me crazy.  Everyone should have something that they want to change about themselves or just the environment they’re in.  There is not a place you can go that doesn’t have so much work that needs to be done and people should not be content with mediocrity.  That being said, there many things that I hate about myself and I’m taking this year to address a few.

1. I’m going to work towards running a 5k. I’ve already been working on this for a few months and I’m only a week 3 of the training program I have.  With a record like that I’m sure that it will take me to the end of the year to complete the program, so I’m giving myself that year so I don’t put too much pressure on myself which will result in me giving up.
2. I’m going to be writing this blog.  I’ve always wanted to say something important, have people listen and then those people apply it to their lives.  I’m a writer by nature and I’ve always wanted to do something to change the things I keep complaining about. I’ve always complained because I didn’t ever know what I could do about it, but now I do so I’m going to quit complaining and do something to change it.
3. I’m going to Recycle, Upcycle and repurpose. It has become my mission in life to inspire to people to repurpose the junk they feel needs to be thrown away.  If not repurpose because it is a lot of work, then at least recycle. Most community recycle centers take things such as plastic, paper, cardboard, aluminum, metal and so on.  Most Best Buys recycle pretty much any electronics, all you have to do is call and ask them what stuff they take and pray that you don’t get some loser who has no idea what they are talking about.  Dumpster diving will be my means of making most of my upcycled crafts. Although I won’t find all of what I need, I will make a point not to buy anything new. I will by whatever else I need a thrift store or flea market.
4. I want to find a place to volunteer. Although I’m a full time student,  I only work as a correspondent (freelance) at my local paper which means I write about one article a week, so that give me plenty of time to donate to people who need it.  I’ve tried volunteering at an adult literacy place, but they said I was too young to identify with the people I would be teaching. Yeah, I thought it was stupid. They have sign that I read every time I go into the library that says ‘Want to change a life? Volunteer’ and then they say I’m too young.  It’s unfortunate, but I’ve found a couple of other places like that, so I’m going to call and ask what they’re age limit is for people who can ‘change a life’.

Those are my resolutions, feel free to tell me yours through message or leave a comment below.