New Year’s Resolution #1 is in full effect, with the help of a web community called Gyminee. Cute name, right? Aside from having a catchy moniker, Gyminee provides some great, simple tools for tracking your progress toward self defined health/fitness goals. It’s a fairly new service and, though not unique in its concept, is a little less intimidating than more established fitness communities like Peer Trainer. I joined up for the January Twitter Lose Off, and quickly found that the simple interface, charted progress, and customizable goal setting are just what I need. Jed and I have accounts and could use a few more GymBuddies! Join up and find me: My username is NycoHerzog.

Also, you can join the official Look, Something Shiny! Shiny New You challenge if you want to make the fun last longer than a month. I started the challenge because I realized my weight loss goal will take me longer than January to achieve. If you’re like me, you don’t want the fun to end on 02/01/09. So sign up and let’s get healthy awhile…

Jed was giving me the daily political rundown last night, one highlight of which was Bush’s refusal to stop his vacation to address the flame-up in Gaza, and all I could say was “Dude, it seems like this entire year has been nothing but a farce.” Seriously. From my enrolling in and subsequently dropping out of beauty school, to Sarah Palin giving a Thanksgiving interview in front of turkeys being slaughtered, this year has been pretty ridiculous on so many levels. Farces have their place, though–They’re entertaining, at the very least. At the most, they’re an opportunity for players to showcase a broad spectrum of talent.

With that in mind, I look forward to 2009 and look back on 2008 with a smirk. Thanks for the laughs. I just about killed you, though, so don’t push it next year, alright?

Now, I don’t have any creative control over the script for politics and celebrity behavior (now that Britney’s made her comeback, there really aren’t any blonde twenty-somethings to worry about besides, well, ME) so I’ll have to resort to hoping for the best for everyone else and making resolutions for myself. Here they are:

Nyco’s Not-So-New New Year’s Resolutions

1. Dust off the Calorie Journal and start keeping track of my nutrition again.
2. Be on time.
3. Quit biting my lip.
4. Stick with the chopsticks.

What’re yours?

Happy New Year, everybody! I hope you are safe and warm this evening as you participate in 2008′s finale. See you in 2009 for the next episode of this strange comedy of life.

I keep trying to send everyone I know to a therapist. Guess it’s the giving mentality I have at this time of year: “Merry Christmas! Here’s a gift debit card and the name of a great counselor. No, no, I’m not saying you need to go–I’m just saying that you might like it…”

So, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. Not everyone. In fact, that’s just a scenario I keep playing out in my head. But, I just might do it! I’ve got people pegged. It could be you. Don’t be afraid. And don’t avoid me because you’re dreading a potentially awkward moment. Dodging the inevitable takes a lot of extra energy.

I’m kidding. It’s not my place to lasso people with the rope of righteous advocacy. Still, it’s fun to think that I might be able to help someone. See, what I’m getting at is this: Though the myth that the holidays drive people over the proverbial edge has long been debunked, I’m taking the opportunity to shout out a New Year’s Resolution for all:

Get Happy!

Find yourself often complaining on Twitter, your blog, in emails or while talking on the telephone? Notice that your friends are teasing you for being a nay-sayer or kill-joy? Talking yourself out of going places because you’re pretty sure you’ll have a bad time? Finding it difficult to get motivated to do daily tasks or commit to things? Feeling aimless, dispassionate, or excessively tired?

You’re not alone. And you don’t have to feel crappy forever, you know.

Resolve to Get Happy. For yourself and for your loved ones. But mostly for yourself. Go see that therapist or just tell someone that you need their support. We’re all here on this planet together to help one another find positive outcomes in life, so give someone the gift of confidence and they’ll reciprocate with the gift of support.

Make it a truly Happy New Year. Don’t be scared. Just reach out. Make that Resolution.

Jump…

Reach for…

Happy…