I will tell you this...

I hate the whole resolution thing, so each year I choose not to make them, nope… not a single one. But looking as objectively as one can at my past years, maybe it’s time for me to try at least one resolution this year. I’ll do myself and others reading a favor and I won’t even let it be a superficial one, like for instance “ I’ll lose ten pounds”, and I won’t even call it a resolution. I’ll just call it My List. These little bullets on My List are going to come from deep within and hopefully be life changing by the time the next new year roles around.

I figure what better time to work on these. I’m in a new city, with a new job, with a new opportunity to make friends and contacts, and a whole new opportunity for a new outlook on a new life – incase you’re counting I just used the word “new” 6 times in 1 phrase. That must mean something good, ha.

 I’m just going to be frank on this, just don’t start calling me Frank: I’ve been a doormat for some people for quite sometime now and my feelings and spirit has been stepped on about as much as it can take before some serious bending turns into breaking. I don’t want that, no one wants that.

So here it is, My List:

1. Stand up for myself and not feel guilty about it.

The first part of that is not so hard for me, it’s the last part that always gets me.

2. Take inventory of the people in my life and cut my losses and move on.

People use me, I use people. It’s human nature and no one ever said every aspect of human nature is beautiful, because it’s not. We all sin and we all fall short. If you feel you have been used by me, then I apologize. I’ll even call you and apologize as in person as I can get if you want to tell me if I have done this to you. For those I feel used up by, I have enjoyed your company at some point and now it’s time for us to move on.

3. Live freely.

When I was in New Orleans, at an art gallery, I was untouched by everything there, except this one simple sign. It read:

“If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you this: I came to live outloud”

This is a quote by Emile Zola, and it just strikes me. I feel like up until now I’ve lived a muffled version of the life I want. I’ve not done, or not said things because I’ve been afraid of other’s reactions or the results of my actions. This year, I plan to loosen the grips of fear.

That’s it. If I wear out these three things from My List, it’ll be a pretty rad year. It’ll probably be pretty rad even if I don’t.

So to loosen up the seriousness of the previously mentioned, here are some tunes I'm currently obsessed with 

enjoy :)

-e