Okay, it really wasn’t all that bad. Actually, as far as years go, it was pretty good. Some ups, some downs and one tragic loss that will forever change my family. Overall though I would say it was a pretty good year.

I’ve never really been into the whole “New Years Eve” thing as something to celebrate. It just feels like any other day trying desperately to be important. And any attempt I’ve made to make any sort of deal about it has felt forced and unnatural. Birthday’s seem a more appropriate time to feel the rush and relief of “surviving another year.” I don’t know what it is that I can’t get my head into about this day. I wish I could. Sometimes I wish I could be one of those bouncing dancing fools filled with the hope and possibilities in that magic moment a new year begins. But I’m not, and I’m okay with that.

I can’t however deny there is a part of me that internally marks this moment as an opportunity to start making changes to improve my life. It’s hard to avoid, but I try. I don’t try to avoid making changes and improving myself. I try avoiding the thought that some magical date on the calendar is somehow going to make those changes happen of their own accord. The thought that just because the page has been turned on a calendar I’m going to magically have the willpower to make changes I’ve been trying to make all year. It’s the perfect storm of setting myself up for failure, and that is what I’m trying to avoid.

Change isn’t easy. The striking of a clock and turning the page on the calendar (hell even buying a new calendar) isn’t going to make it any easier. There is no magic time, or place for change. Weather you are in Times Square or curled up in bed with a book, come midnight, my life is still my life. If I want something, I have to work for it. So I’m not going to rely on the date to make my life better. I’m going to try to wake up everyday feeling like it’s an opportunity for a fresh start and the ability to make my life whatever it is I want it to be.

There is one thing about a new year that I love. Getting a new planner   I know most people track their doings digitally these day, and it would probably be easier to just use the app on my phone. But there is something I love about having it all written out on pages. Inked in, unremovable for better or worse.

Each year when I get a new planner I use the notes section to mark down the memorable events of the previous year. I go through the old planner page by page remembering good times, and making note of them. It’s sort of my annual tradition of looking back and smiling about even small things that happened that may have slipped through the cracks in my memory.

Here are a few of the highlights from my “What happened in 2010 list”

My sister gave birth to a new member of the family. The cutest little boy on the planet. Welcome to earth little Jackson!

My brother got married to a lovely lady and had a fantastic party (where I had more than one to many and had a ball dancing and laughing the night away)

I got stitchtes for the first time in my life (got them twice this year actually) The first finger on my left hand has been deemed the “Franken Finger”

I watched both my nieces dance in their recitals with cute little outfits and nerves of steal. May they always have the confidence to get up on stage and do their thing in front of a crowd with a great big smile on their face and not a single once of doubt.

I saw my first live boxing match

Went snow tubing (fancy term for sled riding) and had a blast acting like a kid for a night

I rediscovered my love of zoos and animals and spent many a days wandering both the Akron and Cleveland zoo. I also got to spend and amazing day at the Columbus Zoo as well (it is awesome – if you haven’t gone, do it!)

A lot of great things happened this year that looking back on made me smile and a few that I would rather forget. There were some bad things that happened (it’s only natural) but I’m not going to mention them. Better to focus on the positive I think and move forward to another year of memory making.

Happy 2011 y’all