My thoughts on this New Year’s Day:  that 2012 is better than 2011.  No, 2011 wasn’t the worst year ever, but it did have some rather awful parts.  The month of hell, the economy, the fact that I put $9K into my 403b only to have the balance rise $1500 for the whole year, and the stresses of my job, school, and life getting me down at times.  So, for 2012, here is my wish list:

1.  That I can concentrate on school enough to get excellent grades and gear up for graduation in May 2013.

2.  That I will be successful with my Legal Aid work, manning the helpline on Tuesday evenings, helping those less fortunate who do not have money to fight ex-wives, neighbors, or other evil people in the justice system.

3.  That I will maintain the weight loss I achieved, and add about 10 more pounds to the total lost, using my Zumba, good eating habits, and swimming.

4.  That I will be able to get through this move of clinics and units into the new building without having a breakdown, getting fired for smarting off to some nasty person, or throwing things at people who won’t listen to reason.  (Oh, nevermind, I won’t be doing the throwing, they will be throwing things at me – like IV poles for instance – actually happened once.)

5.  That I will maintain “date night” with my Sweetie, a tradition we started in August 2009 when I started law school.  We go out every Saturday night, to the movies sometimes and out to eat at other times.

6.  That I will continue to clean out things in my life that I don’t need or that clutter up my world.  If you haven’t used it in 6 months, you probably aren’t going to.

7.  That we recycle as much as possible at our house.  This includes glass, plastics, newspapers, and magazines.  I plan to read as much online as possible, eliminating the need for magazines in general.  I’m not renewing my Newsweek subscription, one which I have had for 20 years, because the writers have become “too left” for my tastes.  Also, with law school, it’s hard for me to find time to read it anyway.

8.  To continue to straighten my hair as much as possible.  I think it makes me look more serious, a bit younger, and certainly more normal.  Ah, the woes of a curly headed girl.

9.  To hit the beach at least 5 times this year.  Bonita calls.

10.  And, last, but certainly not least, to donate more to non-profit agencies this year.  I’m starting today, 1/1/12, with a donation to Heifer.  Won’t you do the same?  It helps us all.

My greatest wish is that 2012 brings happiness, no sadness, and much health to everyone.  It can be worse than 2011, by far, but I certainly hope it’s better.