A couple of years before I retired, my office mantra became “I’m not gonna die on that hill.” Eventually I was surrounded by a gorgeous mountain range of hills I’d refused to die on. Nothing is worth fighting for when you’re not the one raking in the money. My wake up call was when our CEO bought his teenager the same model car as mine, but several years newer. Not even her first car, she’d already totaled a few.

As for New Year’s resolutions, last year’s was to bake a Bundt cake from scratch at least once a month. I did, and this resolution brought me and my dear ones more joy than any “self-improvement” resolution could have. It’s the little things. This year: pies!