2017 Goals or Being Brave

2016 had a lot of ups and downs for me and for everyone.  Still not over the fact that 3 of my favorite artists are now gone.  As Captain Jack Sparrow said, "The World's the same.  There's just less in it."  We had a terrible election in this country that was just full of terrible choices.  Yet, I now have a great boyfriend and a place to live and keep exploring cooking.  The downside is that I'm drowning in debt and need to continue recovering from trauma.

I hope in 2017 to be brave.  I want to reduce my debt load as much as possible, so it will be even more of not going out or buying clothes or shoes unless absolutely necessary. I will also stop bringing my wallet into work and carrying credit cards.  I also want to see my friends more and possibly make new ones.  I know that this might require money, but it's not necessarily true.  I mean I have movies and can make popcorn.  I also want to have a tea party again, but that takes some planning.  My friend gave me a coupon book, so that could help me tremendously.

I would also like to be more comfortable with myself.  My job makes me feel like crap because it's very stressful and it really shouldn't be.  I am taking a real vacation for the first time in 4 years.  I am going to visit my parents in Israel, which is costing me very little.  I think while I am there, I will have time to make a plan and decide what I really want.

I will be cutting out soda as of January 1.  I will try my best to eat healthy even though I won't be able to get as many fresh ingredients as I would like. Hopefully, my friend will visit for a cooking weekend this year.  This might get me better at planning meals and being able to make my own bagels.  I don't want to use the things in my pantry or my gift cards just yet because that would mean that I have failed as an adult.  I am not great at asking for help.

I also want to be happy with my body.  I am 50lbs over what my goal weight is.  Even with the weight loss, I'll still be curvy, but not as big.  I should also be able to do the physical activities I like with greater ease.  I also contacted an art professor at the local college to be a model for one of their drawing classes.  Part of that is to be around people who have artistic talent and partly to be more comfortable with my body.  I also think having a contact in the college, might help me get a job there eventually. 

I would also like to be able to be me.  The real not depressed me.  I know the depression will be there lurking even in remission.  I just want to be better at ignoring it.  Better at dealing with it.  I just want to be better in 2017.