"Ultra Holly" (or My New Year Resolution)

Friday I had lunch with one of our Senior VPs at Sparks Steakhouse as a "thank you" for the work I had done planning a huge meeting.  As we readied to walk over, he asked "where is your coat?".  My coat?  I actually had not worn a coat that day.  In a rush to get out the door I had grabbed my REI grey fleece zip up hoodie, just in case I needed a light jacket.  So there I am - skirt, blouse, heels and my hoodie, heading to one of the most expensive steak houses in New York. ($46 for the fillet).  MORTIFICATION.  I "joked" that it would probably be inappropriate to grab the coat I had donated to the NY Cares coat drive out of the box in the cafeteria.  What do you do?  Wear the hoodie or go to the caf at 12:00 to dig your old coat out of the box.  I decided on the embarrassment of rich people at the steak house I don't know, rather than digging through the box in the cafeteria in front of the entire CP world.
This and a few other recent social faux paxs made me realize it might be time to channel "Ultra Holly".  Who or what you may ask is "Ultra Holly"?  Ultra Holly was invented a few years ago when I was bored with my life - I was 30 and not where I thought I should be on the ladder called "Adulthood".  I decided I should try to be the best person I could be.  And Ultra Holly was conceived.  Ultra Holly is a sparkly, shinier version of the Regular Holly.  Ultra Holly (UH from here on out) puts on lipstick and mascara before she leaves the house.  UH would NEVER throw on a hoodie and sketchers to wear with a skirt to work.  UH would never don workout clothes to go to the grocery store, because as grandmother said "you never know when you are going to run into someone you might want to know".  So the first main difference between UH and RH (regular Holly) is she invests time in her appearance.  I have already initiated the transformation.  A couple of weeks ago, I finally cut, colored and straightened my hair and FINALLY had my eyebrows professionally shaped.  Things put on hold due to marathon training.  (See "The Cost (Woes) of Being Female")  Besides the exterior shell, she also cares about the interior:  she embraces the gym, she eats lots of vegetables and she drinks the required 100oz of water a day.  And she QUITS CHEATING ON HER GLUTEN FREE DIET.  This ensures UH looks as good on the inside as she does on the outside. 
The second part of the UH transformation is the personality aspect.  I'm not saying that there is anything WRONG with the current personality of RH, but there is absolutely some room for improvement.  UH works hard not to complain.  Negativity is no fun for anyone.  Maybe "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" are words we should all live by.  The world would be a nice and much quieter place if people would listen to all the negativity they are putting out there and STOP.  I'm not trying to go all "The Secret" on you, but I really do believe the negativity cycle is never ending and negative people just beome more negative until people don't want spend time with them.  (Step off soap box and exit stage left)
Ultra Holly is adventurous.  She tries to overcome her shyness by talking to people she doesn't know.  RH DETESTs talking to anyone she does not know.  It ends up being like a job interview, with RH as the hiring manager.  UH is a sparkling conversationalist.  She knows how to make small talk that is fabulous and interesting.  And when you are talking to her, you feel like you are the only person in the world at that moment.  UH is someone people enjoy their encounter with and think "what a funny, nice, charming, witty, interesting, educated person.  I want to spend more time with her."  UH spends more time in creative pursuits, such as photography, and not so much time watching "Mob Wives".  RH is learning Spanish and has taken a photo class, but there is way too much "Real Housewives" going on up at W 99th street.  UH keeps a tidy home.  She is neat and organized.  And can have people over at the spur of the moment with out throwing stacks of clothes into the bedroom and closing the door.
Ultra Holly is Regular Holly turned up by 3 notches.  I can't even fully define her because Ultra Holly is a journey.  All I know is that I am in a rut and something needs to change.  Ultra Holly may not be the entire answer, but at least I will be a little healthier and never ever again caught wearing heels, a skirt and a fleece hoodie.