Step #1: become a 90% er

Every January, I go through the same thing. I take stock in the time I've wasted, things not done, personal goals not met, books not read, friends not called, pounds not lost, and money not saved in the previous year. I begin the spiral. I'm wasting my youth. I know its here but its sitting in the back of the fridge like a forgotten yogurt- the one you remember in bursts of self-improvement but when you go to eat it, it's a science project...a relic really.

"I won't be old yogurt this year!", I say-- NOT ME!

I get carried away with "resolution-making". I vow to save the world, save money, lose weight, shop less, read more, write more, get smarter, be nicer, watch less TV, travel more, spend more time with my family, spend less time on the internet, be less anxious, be more optimistic, do yoga, don't slouch, smile, drink more water...

This year, I have vowed to do one thing that should make all these other things fall in line: Breathe. I've taken my time and really thought this through. Up until now, I've been a 60%er. I do a little more than half of what I actually want to do, leaving a heavy chunk behind a curtain of anxiety and fear of judgment. I know that becoming a 100%er is next to impossible. So, I've set my sights on the 90th percentile---somewhat less lofty but feels more in the realm of possibility.

It's a battle but, it's one that I am committed to. Wish me luck.