Old year's revelations

New year's resolutions are notoriously disregarded and eventually discarded: just ask any sales rep at a fitness center. 2008, I believe, is set up so well for me that all I have to do is not fuck it up. This is largely because of things I have accomplished and learned during 2007, which I declared portentously back in January to be "The Year of Me." Hence, I have compiled a list of things I simply need to remember.

1. Don't fucking talk to me about it: do it!
A close relative of "Show me the money!" This applies to myself as much as to other people. Dreams are great, but they're worthless without the deeds to back them up. It's also fun to shout this into the phone before hanging up on people who are taking five minutes to explain why they're going to call you right back.

2. Trust your gut.
If it doesn't seem right, it's probably not. Job seem too good to be true? Boyfriend's story smell of fish? Back away, not today, disco lady! The worst coping skill I learned as a child was to pretend that everything was as good as it pretended to be, rather than as shite as it really was. Now I know to call a spade a spade, or even a muddy shovel.

3. Dump him!
This applies to anybody not at least as awesome as me.

I am frequently envious of people who don't become entangled and/or easily extricate themselves from personal and professional relationships with less-than-excellent persons. Maybe it's the lingering remnants of my grade school dorkiness that permits me to still become involved with marginal people, out of a combination of compassion and empathy. But there are serious problems with picking up lost puppies. I'm currently farming out those I still have and have put a freeze on further applications.

4. Carry an extra pair of socks in your backpack.
I have never regretted doing this. Whether the weather is hot, cold, or wet, an extra pair of socks is worth its weight in Tinactin.

5. There is no glamour in starving.
Money is far from being the root of all evil. It is probably the most useful thing on the planet. I will never again scorn somebody simply for having money. I'm still kind of a socialist, though: my kids will go to public school, but I will ensure that they need never worry about how to pay for college, or a doctor, or a pair of decent shoes. I do believe it's perfectly within a state's responsibilities to make sure the former two are guaranteed. Funny, back when I owned nothing I had a much more Libertarian economic philosophy, but now that I've earned some stuff I don't want anybody else to have to struggle through the same kind of crap I went through.

Merry Mageop, my friends, and many happy returns!