Like many humans, every year I write out a list of things I resolve to do for the New Year. Some times the lists are quite extensive and run the gamut from extreme (“Lose 90 pounds!”) to simple (“Breathe.”) Other times, the lists are short, but the resolutions are broader. Like, “Accomplish those goals I set for myself.”
This year, it’s somewhere in between. At least the ones I’m going to tell you are. I have a few others in my back pocket, but they’re the kind I’d like to keep to myself. Yes, I know. We’re in the age of transparency and people blog about all kinds of crap. Even stuff we’d rather not read about.
But I’m an old fashioned lad and some things I’d just rather keep to myself.
So, without further ado, my resolutions for the year.
- Read 50 books
I love to read. And one of the nice things about not having a car is that mass transit allows me plenty of time to read. I’m not sure how many books I finished last year, but it was a lot. This year, I plan on reading 50 of them.
Caveat: Some of them will be plays. And plays are really quick reads. But they still count as books (I speak of one-play books as opposed to an anthologies). But it doesn’t matter. A book is a book. - Write every day
Writers write. Unless you’re me and then most of the time you don’t. This year, though, I have a couple of great opportunities so I must write, like, all the time. It is day two of 2012 and so far I’ve written both days. That’s a start! - Get my proverbial shit together
This isn’t a big life changing resolution. It’s more like: Stay clean, neat and organized. And it kind of ties in to the previous resolution, too. One of my all time favorite quotes of forever is by Gustave Flaubert and it goes a little something like this:“Be regular and orderly in your life so that you may be violent and original in your work.”So that’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to get (and keep) my shit together so the writing I do will be mind blowing and flip y’all’s lids. - Meditate
Part of being “regular and orderly” means being regular and orderly within my brain space. I know of no better way to do this than meditation. Actually, I don’t know from experience, but that’s what I’ve heard. And I’ve heard it from some pretty reliable sources. You know, doctors and what not. - Be mindful in my food choices
I’m not a Big Guy, but I’m getting there. I need to nip this in the bud, y’all. - Exercise
It helps that relying on mass transit means there’s a bit of walking to be done. But I’ve got a great bike, for cryin’ out loud, I should use it every now and then. - Exercise my right to say “no”
I frustrate myself frequently by agreeing to do things I don’t really want to do. I mostly say yes because I feel guilty or “I might as well” or what have you. Then when the commitment approaches I flip out and curse and stuff. No more. I’m going to say “no” quite a bit this year. No offense. - Do cultural type things
I bought Jenn a membership to the DMA for Christmas, so I can benefit from that. But I also want to go to the symphony. It’s been too long and I always loved going. I’ll do that again. - Take more pictures
And get better at taking pictures. Please let me know if you’re a pro photographer and wouldn’t mind teaching me a thing or two. Thanks. - Blog more
I’ve been horrible about this. No more, I say! No more.
So there it is. My Top 10 Public Resolutions for 2012. Let’s see how this goes, shall we?