Happy New Year all! I know, I know, I’m late.

For me 2010 is all about the pursuit of happiness.  I’m not trying to become a new person, I’m trying to become a happy person, or rather stay a happy person.

So what makes me happy?

Love. Love for myself and love for others.  Real talk, I don’t think I fell in love with myself until 2007.  So sad, right?  Anyway since then I haven’t fallen out of love with myself since.  It’s a priority for myself and really influences all the other goals I’ve set for myself for the next year.  But I’m not so caught up in loving myself that there’s no room for loving others.  While dating is really time consuming, I’ve decided I need to make the time to get out and meet people.   Let’s face, I’m not going to find my Mr. sitting in my apt.

Being Healthy (read: not being fat).  If you know me, getting fat is probably my largest phobia.  And in 2009, I was hitting numbers on the scale I never thought I’d see.  It was really really depressing.  My clothes weren’t fitting right. And for the first time in my life, I did not like the way I looked.  I hated it.  So I whined for a while.  I changed my eating habits, I got a trainer (then fired him, that’s another post), and now I have a regular routine for the gym.

Having money in my pocket. Currently I am “grad school broke” and I’m not exactly happy about it.  I’d like for my money to work for me, so this year I’m going to learn how to invest it.  I’ll share my (hopefully) success stories with you.  With this crappy economy, we need all the financial advice we can get.

Not being stressed. When I started school, I decided the only thing I was going to let stress me out was school.  Not friends, roommate, family or lovers.  I know for some it seemed like I became an ice queen, but it’s a self preservation move.  My main goal over the next 3 years is not only to graduate but to be, what my friend calls, the baddest bitch.  I set a goal to publish at least 3 articles before I graduate, I need to work with different faculty members – put myself out there – and still do my coursework.  That is all crazy time consuming and stressful.  There’s simply no room for other things to stress me.

Having fun. This goes hand in hand with not being stressed.  I had to learn to make time for doing something free (and stress free) and not feeling bad about it.  This is probably the hardest part, but successfully making fun time for myself will ensure I don’t go completely crazy this year.

So what say you SASSY ladies, what are your plans for the 2010?

peace,
e.

Maybe I’ll be called a Scrooge for saying so, but the holiday season can be difficult for me. I have friends and family members who feel the same way. Sometimes we get so caught up in the stress of shopping, travel, and family drama that we forget that we’re supposed to be having fun. Maybe holiday time reminds of people we’ve lost. Maybe we hate the cold, dark winters in the Northeast. Whatever the cause, the holiday blues can be very real. So I thought I would share a few survival strategies that have worked for me in years past. Feel free to share yours!

Stay active.
I can’t emphasize this enough. Seriously, I have to run, walk, do yoga every day (or almost every day) just so I’m pleasant to be around. I need that time. Try to commit to doing something active for at least 30 minutes a day 3 times a week, and I bet you will notice a difference in your stress level and mood.

Friends are the family we choose.
My mother always says this, and I think it’s really true. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family. They are wonderful people. But they can be a lot to take sometimes (and they would say the same thing about me!) Luckily, I have great friends who can step in when things get a little crazy and everyone needs a break. And friends make those occasions when I am away from my family special too. Being around good people always helps lift my spirits!

Give back.
I find it really helpful whenever I’m feeling stressed to get out of my own head and do something for others. I know, money is tight for all of us. However, we can do something good for the world without spending a fortune or even giving up a lot of time. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, donate to a coat or toy drive, or make a donation in someone’s name as a gift. You could even ask your friends to bring canned goods to your holiday party and send a shipment to the local food bank. If you’re in New York City, check out New York Cares for plenty of great holiday volunteer opportunities. Many other cities have similar organizations that can get you connected in your community. If you like what you do, keep it up throughout the year!

Those are just a few things I do during the holidays to (try to) take care of myself and stay focused on the meaning of the season. Post a comment and tell us what you do to stay sane amidst the mayhem. Happy holidays to all!

~Moira