Resolute

Now here I go again
I see the crystal visions
I keep my visions to myself
It's only me who wants to wrap around your dreams and
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
Dreams of loneliness
Like a heartbeat...drives you mad
In the stillness of remembering what you had
And what you lost
And what you had
And what you lost...

"Dreams" - Fleetwood Mac


So, it's 11 am on the first day of the year of our Lord two-thousand and sixteen and I am sitting at a very cluttered dining room table watching the Rose Bowl parade & drinking a mimosa after just eating an amazing egg white omelet I made with real cheese and smoky maple bacon....after drinking 3 cups of coffee and mapping out my entire life in one fell swoop as only someone with kick-a OCD and enough energy to possibly need to be medicated could do. (pause for a breath) And I just thought that maybe, possibly, potentially there could be someone else out there in the world who would find the ramblings in my head interesting. Probably not. But, when has that ever stopped me? So, here's what's on my mind this fine morning.

Resolution shmesolution. I'm so not into that "new year new me" BS. Yes, I said BS. I'm staring my mimosa down at this very moment but I haven't actually tasted it to check my OJ to champagne ratio so this rant has zero to do with the effects of a mimosa. I guess the rebel attitude it took to make a mimosa on a Friday morning is to blame for my brazenness. So be it. See, here are a few things a woman of a certain age should be sharing with the world:

1. I fully understand that despite my Herculean efforts and my obsession with fitness overall...I will STILL AND FOREVER have about 10 extra lbs on my plate that just won't budge. Just not goin anywhere. As the sun prepares to set on my 40's, rest assured Victoria's Secret is not wooing me. My bellybutton hasn't seen the light of day since 1989. Babies over 10 lbs do that to ya.

2. While every New Year's resolution list I've made in the last 30 years references learning to play the guitar, revisiting the violin I used to be able to play, & learning at least 1 additional piano tune....I will never replace Yo Yo Ma on Sesame Street. Nor will Allison Crouch ever call me and ask me to sit in with Union Station.

3. I can go ahead and shelve that Academy Award acceptance speech.

4. And the Grammy acceptance speech.

5. Kyra Sedgwick isn't my bff. She doesn't want to throw me a birthday party.

6. Neither does Sandra Bullock.

Are we all depressed now? Nobody loves us...go eat worms? No, really it isn't all that. I just mean that I decided a looooooooooong time ago to dig my heels in and figure out what's really important to me. I encourage you to do the same. Looking back on yet another year when we looked up and wondered if boarding a plane was even in our best interest or if any public building was really safe...define important. It means something different to everyone. It's the essence of what makes you you. (I just you-you'd). But, do realize that priorities are fluid. That's the beauty of humanity, not just womanhood (wink wink). You can change your mind. Everyday. There was a country song back in the 90s. Aaron Tippin maybe? You gotta stand for something or you'll fall for anything. In other words, what's your line in the sand? At the end of the day, as your head hits the pillow, what accomplishment, whether it's come to fruition or not, helps your eyes close and your mind calm? IT IS 100% OK TO BE A WORK IN PROGRESS. The key word is progress. To quote another 90s phenom, Pretty Woman..."Welcome to Hollywood. What's your dream? Everybody comes here; this is Hollywood, land of dreams. Some dreams come true, some don't; but keep on dreamin' - this is Hollywood. Always time to dream, so keep on dreamin." So write down your dreams. Look at them everyday. Don't worry about what you think you're supposed to dream. Just do you. To the best of your ability. All day. Everyday.

Dearest Annie Dreams - written by Dina for Dina and Dina alone

1. Keep running - to the extent that cancer can never catch you again.
2. Watch what you eat - artificial crap makes your heart feel artificially crappy.
3. Don't worry about who's playing you in the movie, just write the damn book. It can sit in the closet.
4. Channel your inner hippy chic and reduce that carbon footprint.
5. Fill that hole inside you with God and sunshine, not chocolate or cheap clothes.
6. Play music. Duh.
7. Talk to your daughter everyday. She's with God but she can hear you and she misses your voice.
8. Be responsible for your happiness. That's no one else's job.
9. Open that store, in your head, at least. Make a business plan and be ready. You really never know.
10. Volunteer. Whatever you wish you did instead of what you do....there's a volunteer slot for that.

Good luck, everyone! God speed. Go have a mimosa on me!