new year, same me

My attempt at a dry January ended this week and while some of you may look at that as a failure, I’m actually quite impressed with myself.  Let’s be honest, this is the longest I’ve gone without drinking since Dawson’s Creek was on the air.  This was a pretty big deal for me considering the fact I won’t even go near a diet that doesn’t allow alcohol.  Not because I’m some kind of crazy lady who has to have booze every day of the week but because I don’t hate myself that much.  If I can’t eat cheese, how else am I supposed to commiserate?  Turns out, it wasn’t the worst thing I’ve ever done which makes sense considering that one time I decided to take a trip to Nashville in August.  Don’t do that.  Don’t ever do that.

A lot of people roll their eyes at the cliche that is sober January.  I get it.  It’s somewhere along the lines of the January gym frenzie, the phrase “I’m on a cleanse” and the people who claim to have gluten allergies when really they love bread more than Oprah.  And please, for the love of apple pie, do me a favor and put a stop to the idea that she should run for President.  President Winfrey isn’t going to happen.  You want to know why?  BECAUSE SHE’S OPRAH!  If someone asked me if I’d rather be the POTUS or Oprah, you better believe I would choose the latter and skip through life surprising people with envelopes and prizes under their chairs for the rest of my days as opposed to dealing with the gridlock of gloom and doom that is our Congress.  Just because someone speaks eloquently and doesn’t throw public displays of tantrum does not qualify them for the job, although it would certainly be a welcomed change.   Not that foreign policy is an actual requirement to be President, as we’ve all learned, but I would like to have a President who has one, you know?  The White House doesn’t need another celebrity in it.  This isn’t MTV Cribs.   At this point the bar is so low, Big Bird could be President.  Is it too much to request an actual politician to be President?  If I hire a plumber, I expect him to know how a toilet works.  That’s all I’m saying.

So anyway…NEW YEAR, NEW ME!!!  A phrase that sends my hands into infuriated fists.  I’ve never been a huge fan of New Year’s resolutions or reinventing myself just because of a calendar year change.  I’ve always had more of a ‘why wait?’ mentality.   I was looking for a bit of change in my life and wanted to go into 2018 with a clear mind.  I also thought to myself, “Hey, if I can’t do something for a month, who am I?”  So maybe I only made it three weeks.  It’s the thought that counts right?  I’ve been cooking more so GrubHub probably thinks I died.   I’ve been sleeping better and using serums on my face every night in an effort to curb the giant wrinkle that is my forehead.  I’ve been a hiking maniac and making wise monetary decisions.  I’ve curbed my television watching.  I mean, who knew there was so much time in the day to think?  Kidding.  Kinda.  I’ve read five books, almost finished with my sixth.  I joined a book club so I can remind myself on a monthly basis what a huge nerd I am and that I’m getting old AF.  Fun Fact:  First rule of book club, you don’t talk about the book at book club.  Something I found to be greatly disappointing.  Major dweeb alert.

January Jen, as my friends and I refer to her, might not have survived the entire month but it put a lot of things into perspective.  It’s been a pretty crazy year so far, not going to lie.  And while it is a new year, I’m the same me.  My priorities may have shifted but I’m the same girl.  Don’t you worry.  I’m still a sucker for all things romance- don’t even ask how many Hallmark movies I’ve watched in the last month, I still really really like cheese – I just don’t eat it with every meal of the day anymore and I still find reasons to laugh in even the most inappropriate situations.  I don’t want a new me.  I am who I am because of where I’ve been and what I’ve seen.  We all have a potential within us we can tap into or ignore.  The choice is ours.  If you aren’t happy with the everyday you’ve created for yourself or you aren’t getting the results you want, it’s on you to fix it.  I realize this sounds like every quote you’ve ever read in the history of ever but there really is a certain truth to manifesting the world around you.  Be the best you.  We spend so much time searching for love from other people, we forget to love ourselves.  Build yourself a kingdom that makes your heart smile.  Create an exclusive guest list for the castle.  Hold your head high and straighten that crown.  Xx