Hello, 2012.

So, 2011 wasn't the greatest year. Yes, it could have been much worse; I agree. And, yes, it did have its moments. And its lessons...lots of lessons. But, overall, there were too many lessons and not enough laughter. There will be much more laughter in 2012. I'm sure of it. There will also be much more of me creeping outside my comfort zone. There are two reasons for this: 1) I need to get a life (just ask my teenage daughters) and 2) I am going apto find love this year (and, right now, unless it's with the Chinese food delivery guy or my mailman, I'm going to have to get out of my house).

I am honestly going to try to do as many new things as possible this year. Inspired by my lack of life and Patti Stanger's Become Your Own Matchmaker, I am going to try wine tastings, sports bars, festivals and anything else I can work up the courage to do by myself or with friends. And I am not going to let my friends' resistance to fun hamper me. Half the reason I spend much of my free time with my rear end glued to the corner of the couch, talking to my dogs like they are people, is that my friends like their couches and their animals way too much. In the 7 years since my divorce, I have swung from one end of the spectrum to the other. I used to be blowing and going every minute that my kids weren't here, only coming home to sleep and shower. I went out, saw movies, listened to bands, went to events, had brunch, pretty much anything I could find that didn't involve me sitting here alone. Slowly, through the years, I have spent more and more time at home. Alone. Watching tv and talking to my dogs. I think I crossed the line from "I'm okay with being home alone, finally" to "I would rather sit on my couch in my sweats than leave my house, for any reason" this summer after I broke my ankle and had to spend 23 hrs. a day for 4 months on my couch. Whatever the cause, I am thinking that I am WAY too comfortable being at home in my sweats at this point. Honestly, if I wait for my friends to assist me in my quest for a new, more balanced life, I will die sitting in the corner of my couch, surrounded by my dogs. This may happen any way; however, I would like to at least be able to say I tried.

Therefore, I am going to try to get out and try something new at least every other week. I'm going to try to increase this to once a week, but baby steps for now.