57 Things, or Rules, to Stop or Start Doing in the New Year for Your Life to Be Better and to Make You More Happier

Lately, I’ve seen a lot of lists floating around the internet. Things like Three Rules for Life, Five Things to Stop Doing in the New Year, and 12 Things Happy People Do Differently. I started thinking about that last article and, since I have a terrible memory, decided to do some research on myself via my blog.

1. Express gratitude. I searched for the terms ‘thankful’ and ‘grateful’, both resulted in “No posts found”. Hm.

2. Cultivate optimism. Ditto, ‘optimism’ and ‘optimistic’. Yikes.

3. Avoid overthinking and social comparison. I do the former with help. I do not do the latter.

4. Practice acts of kindness. A little, itty-bitty bit.

5. Nurture social relationships. Ever since I learned about the importance of appreciating my friends, I think I’ve done a good job of nurturing social relationships.

6. Develop strategies for coping. In my fashion.

7. Learn to forgive. I simply don’t do this, especially with myself.

8. Increase flow experiences. The author describes this as “completely engaged in the activity that you’re doing”. I’m working on it.

9. Savor life’s joys. When I’m not clinically depressed, I can.

10. Commit to your goals. Yes. But I don’t set goals nearly enough.

11. Practice spirituality. No results for ‘spirituality’, but apparently I say ‘god’ in nearly every goddamn post. Usually within the word ‘goddammit’.

12. Take care of your body. Cleanin’ and jerkin’ since August 2010.

So what did I learn from this little exercise? Maybe 2012 should be the year I learn to:

• be thankful;
• look on the bright side;
• stop being jealous;
• let shit go;
• set some goals; and
• pray.
• And stop saying goddammit.