Is it really resolution time? Yes, I think it is.

Inspired by this article, I'm going to attempt to creatively approach my resolutions for this year.

1.) Orthopraxy (Represented by Jimmie's Chicken Shack)
I've been trying to practice orthodoxy (focusing on right thinking leading to right acting), but it hasn't gone too well. So, this year, I'm trying orthopraxy (focusing on right acting as a way to lead to right thinking). I'm not sure how this will work or how obnoxious it will be to the people around me. I guess I feel like I'm at a point in my life where I'm done making bad choices. That's not to say I won't make anymore, but I'll at least be more mindful of it. I guess it's the concept of "fake it 'til you make it."

2.) Weight loss (Represented by the No Doubt song Gwen Stefani wrote about turning 30.)
I'm working on what I call my Fatty/Fattia goal of losing 100 lbs. by the time I turn 30. I haven't weighed in a while, so I'm assuming I have all 100 lbs. to go. I have until Feb. 11, 2011 to make my goal, so I'll have to do some math to figure out how much I need to lose during 2010. After so much holiday eating, I'm a little afraid to get on the scale...

3.) Budget/Money (Represented by a sweet jam you may remember.)
At this time next year, I'll be preparing to start paying down my student loans. Well, ideally, I will have been paying for a while already, but in January 2011, I'll no longer have the option to defer. That said, I'm excited to make a plan and stick to it to get that debt paid off. I was looking at my credit report today, and I actually think that my student loans are going to work in my favor as accounts in good standing. One of my potentially negative items will fall off in November 2011, and the others disappear in 2012. I was a stupid youngster, and I've never really spent a lot of time or energy working on budgets or thinking about building wealth. I guess since I'll be an MBA, I can't really pretend I don't care or know how anymore. So, I'm reading a lot about how to start smart and fight debt. I am hoping that 2010 will be when I lose my personal finance virginity and actually live money-smart.

4.) Job(s) (Represented by The Offspring...please ignore the rough language.)
I'm graduating in May 2010 with my MBA in Digital Media Management, and I'm hoping that by mid-June I will be starting a new job. This means I have to push hard early on to get my resume out there. I'm open to lots of possibilities, and I'm hoping to be prepared for salary negotiations and the like. If I find a job in Dallas, I can live with my parents rent-free and really kill my college loans in the first year. That would be amazing. Mostly, I just hope I can find a job I don't hate. I know that in this economy beggars shouldn't be choosers, but I'm smart and hardworking, so I think I can snag something I'll actually like.

5.) 4.0 (Represented by this David Ramirez song...couldn't find the whole thing online, but buy his albums. SO worth it.)
So, in my graduate program, I'm the only one left with a 4.0 GPA. It's a lot of pressure to keep up (from no one but myself). I just don't think I could ever forgive myself if I lose my 4.0 in the last semester. So not cool. So, I'm going to work my booty off at school stuff so I don't flounder across the stage. The funny thing is, they won't even announce the 4.0 at the ceremony or even give me summa cum laude status. It's a totally personal goal, and I will fight for it tooth and nail.

6.) 5-Year Plan (Represented by the glorious Ben Folds Five)
In 5 years, I will be 33, almost 34. That will mean I only have a couple of good birthing years left before things get all science-experiment in my uterus. I'm not sure there's anything I can do about that, but I'm sure I'll be keenly aware. I guess I want to make a plan this year for what I want my future to look like. I've spent my entire adult life waiting for Mr. Right to come along and jumpstart my "real life." As it turns out, I'm an idiot in that regard. While I'm not opposed to meeting Mr. Right (or figuring out that someone I already know or am dating is Mr. Right), I need to know where I'm going incase that just never happens for me. I want to someday buy a house and travel, and blah blah blah. I'm not sure what the details are yet, but I want to know that I have some goals in mind that will lead to the life I want to live that are attainable with or without a husband. I refuse to wait any longer to plan my future just in case some man shows up. By the way, if I turn 35 and I'm still not married or in a relationship that I think will lead to marriage, I'm having a "Single Shower" and registering for gifts, and I expect everyone to participate. Spinsters need towels and kitchen gadgets too, you know! And I won't think of myself as a spinster, by the way, I'll be an Awesome-ster or something cool I'll think of later.

So, that's it. Those are my resolutions for 2010. There are more than I usually make, but this is a year of big changes. (Hopefully good ones...) My theme song for the beginning of the year will be "Help I'm Alive" by Metric. My heart is beating like a hammer...probably to keep up with the extra 100 lbs. I'm carrying around! ;)