So! Tax season, as it always does, ripped me away from all the fun parts of my life, the Internet included. It's really a shame that I couldn't make more time to write, because now I won't have a record of all the exciting things that happen between February first and April fifteenth - like playing interstate boardgames (IL vs MN) via Skype, baking dozens of new recipes, various clumsy/falling into walls events, and probably a bunch of other things I don't remember. Oh! There was that one night that my wife and I were playing chicken and she lit my ponytail on fire. That was fun. Pro tip: if a blind woman is coming at you with a lighter, do not ignore her and assume she will stop before she starts a fire on top of your head.
Tonight I will partake in the annual shenanigans of April fifteenth parties, after-parties, and after-after-parties, which will be followed by a three day weekend of non-stop sleeping. Bliss!
But then...what's next? This was my seventh tax season, and I know much like every other year I'm going to be sort of lost for a while. After a few months of working very, very long hours six days a week (followed by a day of running errands, cleaning, and laundry), it is strange to have free time. Leaving work at 5:30 feels like I've only worked a half day. Being outside during daylight hours at all feels strange. I always bumble around for a few weeks trying to figure out a direction, a goal; something to DO with myself and my time that doesn't make me feel useless and unneeded.
So this year I'm going to set some goals. I won't list them out here (they are stupidly detailed because I am an accountant and like anal-retentive tasks), but the gist of it is that I am going to try and be a physically healthier person. Last year post-tax season I expended a huge amount of effort, time, and money on my mental health. And I'm in a much, much better place than I was then. I'm (obviously) continuing on that journey, but I also need a new focus. So I'm going to get more exercise than just the walking in my commute. I'm going to eat more fruits and vegetables. I'm going to return to cooking more and consuming less convenience food.
It's not going to be perfect. I'm still totally going to eat onion rings and frozen pizza from time to time. (Note to self: create an onion-ring pizza and die of happiness.) I'm going to have lazy days on the couch and spend hours playing Paper Mario. But I'm going to try to change what I can, at a reasonable pace. Hell, I may even start flossing again.
Here's to a new year. Happy tax day, everyone!
