For many of us, the year behind us was one of the shittiest we’ve had. The year ahead will probably suck, too. If you haven’t already figured that out, then consider yourself forewarned.

For most of my life, I have eschewed resolutions. I basically felt that making resolutions was just a way of setting myself up for failure. Then I saw Woody Guthrie’s  New Years Rulins and I thought: “Hey, there are ways I can improve my life that are not insurmountable!” (I mean, I can change my socks.)

So for the past couple of years, I’ve tried to embrace the simplified Woody Guthrie approach. Happy to report that I’ve had moderate success.

But here we are on the forefront of 2017 and I feel I need to simplify even more. Because 2016 was complex as hell.

So here you have them. My resolutions for 2017:

1. Whenever possible, only do things and spend time with people that bring joy.
2. Just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should.
3. If you say you are going to do it, do it. Don’t disappoint the people that bring you joy.
4. Read more. Write more. Do more jigsaw puzzles.

I mean really. At the end of the day you just need to be happy. And I think this is the formula that will work for me.