A New Season, A New Leaf

Welcome to the new year!

In the spirit of the New Year, I am setting some resolutions for myself. And I hope that, at the end of the year, I can look back on this entry and nod in acknowledgement of having achieved that goal.
With that said, I will now jump on the bandwagon of resolutions and goals, in the form of a fabulous list. Because who doesn't like lists??

Resolutions for 2016

           1. Go Outside More Often

Go outside, however that may manifest itself. For me, I plan to go camping at least once, every other month. That's a grand total of 6 times, which should be doable.

Going outside will keep help me away from my extremely clingy boyfriend, Netflix. It's also something I always dream about doing, but am too afraid to do alone.
I grew up in a family that went on long road trips across the country, with our pop-top trailer in tow. There are pictures of my face covered in dirt, my hair a total mess and sticking up in several directions, and I wouldn't trade those memories for the world. And I don't understand why I ever stopped making those kinds of memories.. Why I ever stopped going on those kinds of adventures.


           2. Try New Experiences

This one kind of points to number one, but it's also a throwback. About three years ago, I made a resolution to 'Say yes to things you would normally so no to.' Within reason, no funny business! And I did, sort of, but not to the fullest extent that I could have. I still said no to the concept of things that scared me.

And I'm ready to say yes to so much more!

I want to go to a major sports game, just so I can say I did.
I want to hike to the top of a mountain, and back down it.

I want to wake up early in the morning and take pictures of the sunrise from a new place.

           3.  Quit Social Media

Yep. You read that right. QUIT. Maybe not all of it, if cold turkey is too hard for you. But TRY at least. For me, I have already deleted my Facebook account. I still have my Instagram account (don't judge me), but I hope to eventually delete that, too. And, if I'm being honest with myself, I will probably log back into the account before the month is over.. But hopefully I don't give up. Hopefully I re-delete it shortly after I re-activate it..

Social Media has caused a lot of self conflict for me, and I find myself constantly checking my notifications. 

Did anyone 'like' what I posted? How many comments did I get? I wonder what this person has to say today.. Oh, I wonder what Buzzfeed posted an hour ago. Hey, that Tasty post is almost identical to the recipe I've grown up with..

It's essentially an addiction. And I kept catching myself being distracted while I was with my friends, with my family, while babysitting my nieces.. It's not fair to anyone around me to be attached to my phone, to have my eyes downward, and my attentions somewhere else. It's taking away from what's directly in front of me. And I don't want to miss any experiences by wishing I was a part of someone else's.

           4. Write More Often

It doesn't matter how much, how well, or how often. Just make sure it's more often than you currently are.

For me, I am hoping to maintain posting in this blog. Hopefully you'll be reading a lot more posts about new adventures. Writing is very cathartic and I don't do it nearly enough.

           5. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

This, I feel, is a fairly cliche resolution, but hang in there. This one refers back to number three, and I don't want you to think I'm being ridiculous.

I don't want to compare myself to anyone else anymore.

In November I went to take some photos in Berkeley. I was dealing with one of my inner demons, and I genuinely didn't want to be there. After taking the pictures, I went to a lookout point and had some alone time. I took a selfie, and posted a picture of myself smiling, with some caption about 'enjoying the view'.

It was a lie. I wasn't enjoying the view. I was lonely, and wishing that I was someone else, anyone else. I wanted nothing more in that moment to be one of my other friends, any one of them. They all seemed to be so happy with their kids, significant others, homes, travel plans, life experiences, jobs.. The irony being that I was doing the exact same thing they were.

Because we all put out the face we think looks best, and will be best liked.

With the glorious wonders of social media, you only put out the face you want others to see. I am constantly comparing my life with theirs and it's not fair to anyone, especially myself, that I do that.

Pardon my french, but that kind of an attitude toward your own life experiences is bullshit. You know why? Because someone out there looking at what you do with your life and your spare time is wishing that they were in your shoes.

But life isn't about always being liked, coming in first, or being the prettiest. Sometimes life is ugly, cruel, gross, and heartbreaking. And it's through the turmoil that we do the most growing. And it's because of the crappy times that we can appreciate the good ones.

I'm going to attempt to cut out comparing myself to others. It's not going to be easy, but the best things you can achieve never are.

And that's it, kids.

Five resolutions that I hope I can live by. Five goals that I hope I can conform to and adapt to.

Good luck this year, people!