"New year, new me," said every woman ever.

Why is it that we make January 1st the start of our goals? For me, the first of the year marks last night's hangover and an annoying habit of writing 13 instead of 14 on your papers and checks. It's just another day, except that there's no school, and I sleep in until 4:30 instead of 11:30. Oops. 

I guess, like every ambitious woman on a constant search for self-improvement, I do try to make goals for myself before or on the first of the year. The famed New Year's Resolution(s). "What am I going to do this year that I didn't do last year? A lot. Oh yeah, last year was so lame. I was so lame. Let's pretend last year never happened. This year is going to kick ass." Yeah. Then the first of February hits and the resolution of hitting the gym every day hits the floor as you hit the drive thru at In N Out, or McDonalds for those who are East Coasters. Resolutions are hard. Self control is hard. What makes it so hard to follow our own goals? Temptation, laziness, "I'll do it tomorrow." Everyone is a victim, and everyone is a culprit. Me included; My goal of trying to preserve my poor lactose intolerent body has gone horribly in these first 12 days of the year. Last night for dinner was pizza, today I ate butter, whipped cream, chocolate cake. My excuse? We had guests. Okay, Dani, okay.

Today I sat around with my stomach growling at me (not in the good way) and thought about my resolutions. What do I really need to do to make myself a better human being? I have my tiny little goals, but what are some big things I can do to truly make the most out of my last year as a true growing and developing young, adolescent woman? Then it hit me. New Years Revolution(s). Totally lame and cheesy, probably not original at all, but that's what this new year needs to be about. Revolutionizing my life. 

I guess I started my New Years Revolution back in September. I picked up my life and plopped myself down in Rennes, Bretagne, France. Zip code 35000 or 35700 depending on who you're asking. New language. New country. New friends. New family. New house. New cat. New food. New life. Revolutionary? I like to think so. Seems pretty New Years Revolutionary to me. But now that I am here and have survived more than 4 (what?) months here in Rennes, I think I can handle my own revolution of resolutions. Thus, ladies and gentlemen, the things that I have promised myself and will promise myself to do in this brilliant and huge year of 2014: 

1. Blog more. And here I am! That starts today. I pay for this lovely typepad.com blog each month, and maybe post twice. My goal for each week: at least two posts. 
2. Write in my journal. Actually. My mom calls me a journal whore, and rightfully so. I possess so many journals it's disgusting. My mother would be happy to show you the hundreds (I don't think that's an exaggeration) of journals I have had in my short 17.8 years of life. I have 3 by my bed just here alone. It's a real problem. But, that stopped with the purchase of my last journal. I recently (back in November?) bought a beautiful red Moleskine journal. I'm in love with it. And so far, I've written in it at least three times a week. I guess my other resolution could be stop being a journal whore. You're welcome, mom. 
3. Better relate to others. I guess this resolution started back in October/November as well. As a headstrong Aries, I am automatically inclined to try and shoot down other people's opinions and argue when people are blatantly wrong. I've always been able to accept other people's opinions, justify why both side is right, and respect why they feel that way, but I get this passionate burning anger when someone outright disagrees with me. Especially when it comes to politics. I used to let it show, but recently I've been biting back. Instead of saying, "No, that's not right." I breathe and say, "well why do you feel that way? What is your logic?" Helps that passionate burning really scary anger simmer down. Also makes for some really good conversation. 
4. Be more of myself. I feel like all of us have a huge tendancy to shove our true selves back in the shadows when we're introduced into new situations. Instead of being ourselves and showing our true colors in the best time possible, we put up what we want people to see. I did that when I came here. I was not fully me. When I went to Nice in the summer of 2012, I introduced myself to the group of people. Not a façad, myself. I ended up meeting my very best friend. And she is here with me. If you put yourself out there as yourself, you will attract the people you're meant to have in your life.
5. Be healthier. This does not necessarily mean hitting the gym every single day. This means, be healthier in general. Mental health, bodily health, friendship health, family health. It's important to keep a balanced life. It's really easy to get caught up in one thing more than the other, and really easily, one of the things in your life falls out of balance. I need to start excercising a little more, eating less of the things that makes my body yell at me, drink more water, take more naps, read more, write more, get more manicures, spend a little more time by myself, keep in touch with my American friends more, keep in touch with my distant family more, write handwritten letters, and make new friends. Health is so many things, and when one thing is out of wack, life is out of wack. 

And there we go. My (kind of) brief list to a better 2014. I'll be honest, 2013 was really rough. I saw some hard times. And I'll see hard times in 2014. College, another move, distance of friends & family, no doubt a little bit of struggle with my depression. Life can't always be easy, nor should it be. Nonetheless, I'm hoping that my New Year's Revolution makes the hard times a little less hard, and the good times a hell of a lot better. 

Bonne annee, everyone. May your New Years Resolutions (or Revolution) take you far.