I’ve mentioned before that I tend to prefer establishing a theme for the new year as opposed to specific resolutions. An overarching theme gives me enough guidance to accomplish certain goals throughout the year, but enough flexibility to redefine those goals as the year progresses, ensuring maximum success, which is really what resolutions are all about anyway.
Over the past month or so, I’ve come up with a few of different options for my 2008 theme, and have amassed a list of the rejected ones. Feel free to co-opt any of these for your own theme:
1. The glamorous life – This actually might have been my theme for 2007, but since I can’t remember, and I do not yet own a feather boa or an ascot, I suspect that it was left unfulfilled.
2. Less blogging, more snogging – I rejected this one after realizing that these two activities need not be mutually exclusive. In fact, considering the unprecedented number of times I’ve hung out with bloggers this year, I should potentially consider a theme of “More snogging bloggers.” I’m keeping that one in my back pocket for the TequilaCon ’08 theme.
3. Finish what you start – This was a close contender for the 2008 theme, but it lost out due to its unfortunate quantifiability. I am very prone to fads, and start a lot of new activities throughout any given year. If I had to finish everything I started, I would either have to start a lot fewer things or need to find a bigger apartment to accommodate all the completed craft projects. Plus, this seems too much like the “clean plate club” of new year’s resolutions, and that’s just not my style.
4. 2008: Electric Boogaloo – Yet another solid possibility, but since I already failed at hip-hop/breakdance class, it seemed like I blew my chance for this to be an overriding life theme. It might still make a comeback as a mid-season replacement if I don’t like my final choice.
5. ‘08 is the new ‘98 – I’m not really sure where I was going with this one.
And the winner is:
6. Feelin’ great in ’08 – It’s catchy, easy to remember, has a folksy contraction that makes it both hip and approachable, and it rhymes. I’m considering this to be the ad campaign for my life next year. Hey! Did you see that billboard for the new Jenny they just came out with? It says she’s feelin’ great in ’08! I want to buy some of that! Sign me up! I may even try working on a jingle.
Besides, it really leaves a lot of room for interpretation, which is very important when selecting a theme. I could mean feeling great physically, emotionally, financially, romantically, intellectually, politically… any or all of the above.
So each choice I make throughout the year will be prefaced by this question: “Will this make me feel great, or if it doesn’t, will it eventually lead to something that may make me feel great?”
And the answer right now, as I look at this bottle of Macallan 10-year my brother bought me for xmas is, yes. Yes, this will indeed make me feel great. Happy new year, everyone!

Filed under: General on December 31st, 2007