The countdown is over, the ball has dropped, and for most of us the hangover that is New Years Eve has subsided. Nothing left to do now but look ahead and enjoy the year ahead.
Oh, there’s also that nasty end of the world business. Forgot about that.
Several phony reputable sources claim that this is the year where we shuffle off our mortal coil, with smart money saying that this whole thing ends on December 21. Phonies Experts have several theories about this, including: the end of the Mayan Long Count calendar, a rogue super planet on a crash course with our own, solar flares that can incinerate the ozone layer, and Kim Kardashian getting nominated for an Oscar. The future is bleak. So if any of this is to be believed, why not take this chance to really live while we have the time?
Here are a few suggestions on how to do things big before we get snuffed out:
Cash in Your 401k: Why not? You’re not going to retire, and after the recession it’s probably not worth a lot. Cash in those chips and hit the tables – it’s time to live it up.
Buy on Credit: Stop ignoring your junk mail credit offers and take advantage of deferred interest payments. No credit charges for 12 months are the minimum you’ll need to get away with this. Moon bounce? Hot tub? Flying car? Why not? It’ll all look good in the castle you’ve purchased with a sub-prime mortgage. It’s all good.
Tell off your boss: No point in wasting another day at the office, and your boss has been asking for it since the day you were hired. Why not go for every office prank in the book? Cover desks in tin-foil. Dress up as co-workers. Put various office supplies in jello molds. Just make sure that you quit before your boss says you’re fired.
Go skiing: For those that are unaware, this is the blood sport where people pay good money to strap pieces of plastic to their feet and throw themselves down mountains. I don’t get it either. The upshot: I’m fairly certain there are no famous Latino skiers, so if you build a little buzz before we flame out, you might become a minor celebrity
So here we are, some 350 days away from what a lot of people think it going to end. Is that really it? Probably not – at least not more than any other day. Even though these suggestions may not be the most realistic (Note: Being Latino does not condone cashing in your 401k), maybe the takeaway from all of this is that we should all live life to the very fullest, because you never really when if they end is near.
Here’s to a happy and healthy 2012.
About Ryan Almodovar