Since When Is Content A Synonym For Happy?!

Earlier today I was talking to a co-worker, and we were doing the usual “how was your Christmas, got any big plans for NYE?” routine line of questioning. He then jokingly asked if I had any New Year’s resolutions and at the time I couldn’t think of any.

As the day went on I started thinking about a conversation I had with someone on Christmas Eve about life and being happy.  A good friend of mine sarcastically said that being happy and being content seemed to be one in the same these days. Naturally I found the comparison more than a little depressing.  This afternoon I found myself having lunch with the same person and we kind of continued that conversation, both trying to figure out what we were going to do with our lives.  The general consensus was that neither of us have a clue as to what we want to do, but we both know one thing for sure, we want to do what makes us happy.

Now doing what makes you happy seems like a great idea, but you can’t pay your mortgage with hopes and dreams and you can’t turn on the lights with a wink and a smile.  So there comes a point where doing what makes you happy needs to align with being able to maintain a certain standard of living. I’m fully aware that money doesn’t buy happiness but I’ve always said I’d rather be miserable in nice house than in a shack.

I have pretty much always walked the straight and narrow path and followed the yellow brick road that has been laid out of me. Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m a very practical and rational person and that I over analyze every option and scenario before coming to a final decision (most of the time). The one time in my life that I didn’t really think anything through was probably the first full year after I graduated from college, and that was probably the most fun I’ve ever had and the happiest I've ever been.

After being rejected from all eight, yes eight, Ph.D. programs I applied to and ending a four year relationship I decided to “find myself” between 2008 and 2009 and have a little fun and try not worry so much about everything. During that time I went skydiving (twice), took a few road trips to visit some old friends, went to multiple concerts and saw several of my favorite bands, hung out in Boston and Cape Cod for a while,took salsa dancing lessons, took up an amateur interest in photography and went to DC for Obama’s inauguration (No matter what your political stance is, everyone should try to attend at least one inaugural event in their lifetime b/c it was freaking awesome!). I also decided to get in my car and drive several hours to visit my best friend just to prove to her that I could get there faster going my way than the way that she went. Awful idea by the way, I somehow ended up at the airport in Raleigh, NC and added an extra hour to the drive.

I’m sure by now you’re wondering, what in the hell is this girl talking about? I said all of that to say this: my New Year’s resolution for 2012 is to do what makes me happy and I encourage everyone else to do the same. That doesn’t have to mean a career change, starting or ending a relationship, going back to school, or anything life altering. If traveling makes you happy, then get in your car and go somewhere. My plan for 2012 is to create a mini-bucket list and make sure I can check off everything by December 31, 2012. So far items on my bucket list include: take a road trip to somewhere I've never been, read more for enjoyment (making sure text books don't count), take up a new hobby (not exactly sure what that will be yet), spend more time with my friends, go to more sporting events (especially during baseball season!), spend more time outside, run a 10k (my goal of a half marathon this year was a bit over the top), and finally meet some of these babies my friends keep popping out! Seriously! I feel like some of these kids will be teenagers before I meet them if I don't start doing a better job of keeping in touch with people.

So in 2012 be prepared to read about my slow moving progress as I attempt to figure out what it is I'm doing with my life. This will either be incredibly entertaining or an epic failure, either way I'm looking forward to it!