the year of yes

With only an hour left until 2013, I'm excited about the wonderful things to come in the new year. I used to be kind of notorious in my family for being over-booked. I was always running on empty, and I couldn't give my all to anything. So for the past two years, my New Year's Resolution list has been short and sweet. 

Learn to say NO.

I think I have gotten infinitely better at saying no and maintaining a balanced life, my stress level has decreased significantly, and I'm able to enjoy every moment of my life so much more than before. Don't get me wrong, I still have a long way to go in this department, but I am SO much better than before.

This year, my list of New Year's Resolutions is just as short and just as simple.

Say YES to the right things.

While I've gotten better at saying no to the things that don't really matter, I seem to somehow have a hard time saying YES to the things that I actually want to do. 

I always have an excuse. I'm too busy with work. I'm too slow at work and need to work more. I'm too tired from work and need to rest. I don't have enough money. I need to lose weight before I do that. I might fail. I'm too scared. I could literally make up an excuse for everything, but that's going to stop this year.

Instead I'm going to focus on all of the reason why I should say YES the right things. It will make me happy. It will be worth it in the long run. You're only young once. I'll never have enough money. I'll always be working. I will always be busy. I will never be at my dream weight. If it's scary, that means you really want it. And of course the ultimate reason...WHY NOT?

I've made so many amazing memories throughout the past year...

whether it was solving murder mysteries,

 planning a last minute road trip up the coast of California,

 (which turned out to be one of my favorite events of the year)

finally making it up to San Francisco,

  visiting the Redwood Forest in Northern California,

 or visiting Yosemite.

I'm so excited for 2013. 2013 is going to be year of YES for me!

What are you planning on working on in the upcoming year? Any hopes or goals?

Be on the lookout for my holiday recap and Best of 2012 posts later this week, and don't forget to enter my Merry and Bright Giveaway before it ends on January 4th!

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!