The Smarter Living section of the New York times has an article this week entitled “Start Practicing Your New Year’s Resolutions Now.” I didn’t read it. In fact, I saw that headline, promptly rolled my eyes and said “Oh, Smarter Living, that’s yesterday’s news!” because I’ve been practicing this whole improving my life thing since October. I’m making progress. I feel good. I have all the plans in the world to karate chop my way into 2020. I did have some hyperventilating moments in regards to an art showing that I’m doing in April and May, but I got some really great advice from a few different voices. I’m pretty settled about all of it now. Chilled.

Since October, when I started setting specific goals for the month, I’ve noticed that not only have I spent time focusing on achieving those goals, but I have also spent time focusing on me. This includes genuine self care like putting lotion on my flaky skin instead of just sitting around scratching and trying to claw that skin off. I take allergy medicine before bed so I don’t wake up with a clogged nostril and crusted over eyes. I threw out all of my makeup that has been sitting in my medicine cabinet for more than two years and bought new eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara. I haven’t used the eyeshadow or eyeliner yet, but I’ve been using my eyelash curler and mascara almost every day. I go to the gym every day but I don’t beat myself up when things happen in my schedule and I have to miss a day. The only goal I set for the month of December is to survive. December is hard enough for a thousand reasons. This year includes more travel than I’m used to, which makes the month seem too short to get the usual things done, let alone added things.

See? Self care. Not putting more stuff on my plate than I can eat.

My mantra now is “I am responsible for my own happiness.” Part of that responsibility requires me to figure out what exactly makes me happy. Setting specific goals and making accomplishments on those goals makes me happy. Making my eyes look pretty makes me happy. Waking up breathing out of both sides of my nose makes me happy. Not waiting around until the New Year to start all of this, makes me happy.