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1. Ok, here it is, 2015. Usually I’m bummed on NYE, in some kind of sentimental sad way. I don’t know, it just happens! Every year, like SAD. BUT this year, I felt so excited! Happy, even. Wow. You guys. This is either going to be awesome, or really terrible and tragic. Let’s go find out.

2. I have finally entered the “post-college” phase of my life. I mean, it only took a year and a half of actual post-college. I have been so busy (aka gainfully employed and interesting) before now, I had no time to think about (aka sleep in too late) my life now! You know? (Don’t worry mom, I’m working on finding a “real” job!)

3. At some point you have to stop trying to be brave and brash and instead do what is beautiful. What makes you happy instead of terrified. What makes you feel fulfilled instead of simply adventurous. What is “good” instead of “interesting”. Throw pillows and rugs instead of throw-stuff-in-a-suitcase. It’s ok if it feels right, right? More on this later…

4. Sometimes the worst thing for you can be too much of yourself.

5. SHUT UP. STOP TWITTERING ABOUT HOW HEARTBROKEN YOU ARE. IN SOME STRANGE VAGUE WAY. (and yet, at the same time: LISTEN TO ALL OF MY WHINY PROBLEMS!)

6. Selfies are over. Stop. Stop. Or I will be force to break your selfie stick over my knee. Watch me!

7. (Contd from 3, sort of…) When I was younger, (maybe 4 years ago or so) I loved to talk to one of my best friends about how people are so lame, how people get married, and all they want is that house, those annoying kids, and stuff. We loved to think that we were so much better, that we wanted more for our lives than that. We wanted to travel, to meet nice/cool people, to do important things. We never, ever wanted to settle down, to own a house, to be tied to some square chunk of land. Fast forward to now… we’ve done a bunch of cool stuff, we’ve met lots of nice people, we’ve started and are still trying to do important things. And we have more perspective, thanks to all that we’ve done, on the stuff that other people choose to do. Yeah, ok, sure, kids are cute. Yeah, marriage seems, well, it seems to work for you, we guess. Oh no, we still don’t think buying that house is a good life choice… anyway, what I’m saying is, is that we’ve changed our minds. Even if it is just a little. And we hate to think what our past selves would say about it, so we barely admit it to our current selves.

8. What do you mean, you saw me on OKcupid? No way. I saw you! (BTW your profile pic is really terrible. I mean, it probably is. It might be. Not that I’ve seen it. What are we talking about?)

9. What country this year? Vietnam or South Africa? Do I have to choose?

10. It’s all going to be ok! Especially when you think about global warming and how terrible it is, and how no one even gives a shit that the polar bears are dying, not really. Look, all of your other problems have now practically vanished!

It’s almost 2013. 2013! Can you feel it? I’m feeling it. I think 2013 is going to be great. Fantastic. Wonderful, even.

Some big things are coming up for me, in 2013. I’m graduating from college this Spring! Ah! I know. Yikes!

I’m moving out of my parents’ house! Ah! Independence! Frightening.

I’m moving out of Michigan! More yikes. More scary.

I’m getting a really cool job somewhere, that I really like, and that pays me an adequate sum of money for my time! Yay!

These are, of course, my plans. Things could change. Things will change. 2013 is coming, and bringing with it new, exciting life events!

Instead of looking back at 2012, like a lot of people are doing right-about-now, I’m looking forward. For once. Things are going to be different in 20-13! Oh. Twenty-thirteen doesn’t have quite the ring to it as twenty-twelve. Or, do I just have to get used to saying it? Maybe it three or four months I’ll like it better, it’ll roll off the tongue… anyway.

Basically, next year is the time to do all the things you thought about/wanted to do this year, but didn’t have the chance/time/bravery to do. What will you be doing in twenty-thirteen? (See, it almost works… a few more repetitions, and it’ll be super smooth-sounding.)

Instead of making resolutions, I’m making plans. And by plans, I mean that I’m making this list, of:

THINGS I WANT TO DO IN TWENTY-THIRTEEN

Start a Podcast!

Travel out of the USA

Graduate from College

Move out/Get an apartment

Leave Michigan

Get a J-O-B!

Write a movie script

PUT DOWN THE CELL PHONE

Make eye contact (not in a creepy way!)

Submit writing to magazines/journals

Be in a play/musical at school!

Practice/Learn Piano

Be more SOCIAL

Explore

Take more pictures! (Instagrams DO NOT COUNT)

Learn to Surf!

Learn to Ski!

Be ORGANIZED

Volunteer AT LEAST ONCE

Give blood

Sell stuff on Etsy again

Random Acts of Kindness!

World Book Night!

Be Brave, Honest, and Strong

Whew. Good thing 2013 is a full year, eh? Anyway, I think these goals rollover into the next year. 😉

Is the ball dropping yet? Twenty-Thirteen, here we come! (See, it works now! Twenty-Thirteen!)

Ok, I lied. I just can’t walk away from 2012 without a word goodbye! It’s been a great year. Here are a few of my favorite posts from the past year. Now I’ll see you in 2013! OK. Bye.

 A Dot on the Map

Why you should never look up to anyone

An Unburial

Californiacation, part 0

rust, dirt, men, and the world

a simple life question

i love you and i love you and i respect you

 

 

Dallas Clayton is one of my favorite people in the whole wide world. He’s awesome, a writer, inspiring, handsome, and he has cool rainbow shoes. He inspired me about three years ago to start writing, and I haven’t stopped since. I hope you’ll check out his books – they’re a great read for kids and adults.

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Follow Dallas on Twitta: https://twitter.com/dallasclayton

Check out his website (more poems/stories/goodness included): http://www.dallasclayton.com/