Oh yes. It’s just days until Christmas, and I feel I’ve sort of skipped the wind-up this year. I didn’t bake any cookies (aside from helping Mom) or hang any decorations. I bought the minimum for gifts and got someone else to do the wrapping for me! I only sent out cards if they were sent to me first. Like I said…minimal. I’m more excited for the New Year. And so, I’ve written some guidelines for my future self…they can be guidelines for you, too if they happen to lend a little inspiration.

1. Be nicer. People are a gift. Respect them and find wonder in their amazing potential. Remember they’re just people trying to live their lives as best they can. Try not to take their behavior personally. They’ve likely got other concerns that impact what they do. Get over it. Don’t waste time or energy pouting. And for heaven’s sake, don’t drag your feet in some passive-aggressive vindictive response. Just do what you can to make your life and theirs easier. It will produce better results, in the end. I promise.
2. Create. Be creative in your personal time. Draw, paint, take photos, write.  Remember how much you loved that? Do it again, it’s good for you and it makes you happy. (It would be good for you to post it to your blog, too. Remember how you aspire to keep your blog up to date? Nothing like killing 2 birds with one stone.)
3. Be healthy. Eat healthy foods that you enjoy and delight in how good they make you feel. Take pleasure in an active lifestyle and revel in the emotional boost you get from the endorphins. You bought those nordic skis…get out and use them this year.
4. Be organized. “Organization” is a colorful spectrum… Try to keep yourself out of the absolute-fire-hazard-pest-control-strange-smell rang of the continuum. Expect that there will be an ebb and flow as the forces of entropy and enthropy wage war in your physical and virtual space and time, but do what you can to actively reduce clutter. Purge the old and unused. Decide how you will use things and where you will put them before you take possession of them.
5. Think. Play mind-building games and puzzles. Engage in philosophical conversations with friends. Think critically to try to help solve problems…both your own and in society. Be a part of the solution.

We each have an obligation to drive our own success. This includes setting up optimal conditions for favorable outcomes. These are the things on which I think I can improve in the coming year to really help make 2012 a success.