Bonne Année
The last two weeks of the year are the worst two weeks of the year. Who the hell invented December? Curse you, Pope Gregory. It's a disaster of a month, a complete waste of thirty-one days. And it's not like early January's much better. ~Douglas Coupland, The Gum Thief
One thing is for sure, though. This year needs to bring some changes. Less wishing and complaining and more doing. Far more difficult than it sounds. I'm more self-defeating than I'd care to admit. And I worry. A lot. So much so that it often interferes with getting anything done. With so much inspiration all around and so many great people urging me on, I really don't have any excuse.
So may I present (making it public so I'm somehow more accountable) the first list of 2008:
- Take more photographs. Maybe start Project 365.
- Reintroduce yoga into my daily routine. Lack of energy is definitely one of my biggest hurdles in getting anything done.
- Write everyday. I used to write a lot and I enjoyed it and I was a decent writer. These days it takes me forever and the quality just isn't what it could be. I'll never write a book or article or anything else if I never write. It's as simple as that.
- Work on my French and the few words I know in Spanish. Someday I'd like to do some travelling and I don't think that English is going to get me very far.
- Work with Matt on the design and possible set up of a website.
These are some of the big things. I have lots of other little ideas that are still kicking around my head.
(ETA: Clearly I need to work on my French when I can't even get a simple accent right. All fixed now. Oof.)
2 comments:
Awesome photo of Shorty. I can't get over how much he and Tabitha look like siblings.
Inspiring resolutions! Know that I face very similar struggles when it comes to getting things done and feeling paralyzed by worry, so you are not alone. But you can do it.
One thing that really helps me get past self-sabotaging behaviour is exercise, so I would highly recommend seriously pursuing the yoga. Not to sound preachy, but movement really does ease the mind and set the stage for success. (An hour of exercise in the morning for me usually guarantees a much better work day.) In fact you may find that you spend less time 'doing', because you are more physically tired. But magically you may discover increased well-being and productivity, things will fall into place.
And don't forget to have fun with your lists - can't wait to see your projects unfold!
Happy New Year!
Shorty and Tabitha are cousins after all :) I saw a striking resemblance in your photo of Tabitha in Gerry's motorcycle bag.
Deep down I know that yoga (and other physical activity) has do be at the top of my priority list. While I get a reasonable amount of cardiovascular activity in on the walk to/from work (about a half hour each way), it doesn't really get the job done in terms of improvement of my general well being (I still don't sleep well, I'm short on energy, etc.).
I'm only beginning to appreciate movement for the sake of movement, rather than as an immediate means to an end (like getting to and from work). It's easy for me to forget or undervalue the benefits of yoga and other forms of exercise, especially when I know that the beginning stages of a new program mean that I'm going to feel even more tired. But in the end I know that the benefits will far outweigh all of my reluctance and complaining.
Perhaps the biggest challenge for me is making it part of a routine. I find that I'll get a burst of energy and decide that it's the perfect time to fit in a yoga session, but then won't roll out the mat for another two months. I guess it's a matter of making the time and sticking to the plan.
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