New Year's Resolutions and a Gift
Its that time of year again, where we make grand promises to the God of Progress, which we promptly forget come January 2nd. I thought it might be better to start small, with just three habits I'd like to get into doing in 2020. Feel free to post yours too.
1) Take Better Care Of Myself: Whether its eating better, getting occasional exercise, learning to meditate, I want to take better care of myself and my body. You can't do much if you are always running at full throttle, which up until recently I was doing too much of. I'm not going to set any benchmarks, no walk 3 miles a day, eat home cooked meals 3 times a week. Seems to me that when ever I make it a contest, I fail. I'm going to just put "Do Better" on the white board in my kitchen where I'll see it.
2) Talk To Friends and Strangers More: Regrettably, having focused too much on my work life, left me little time for a social life. Not the grand, "Give Concerts in the Park" kind of stuff, but the simple things like having lunch with friends from time to time. I've realized that I have perhaps a half dozen people outside of work that I talk to on a regular basis.
And that means not just friends. I need to make an effort to try new things that involve people. Not just planned things. I need to learn to speak in public better so a visit to the local chapter of the "Toastmasters" seems to be something to look at. And not just planned events. Attending those concerts in the park and actually striking up a conversation with a stranger too.
3) WRITE MORE! Now that's a big one, lol. Time to stop writing down story ideas and outline, instead write stories.
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Along the lines of more writing, Ecosophia and Green Wizard regulars G.Kay Bishop sent me a copy of her submission to the "After Oil" Romance Anthology. It wasn't chosen because it was a bit long, but it is still a good story. You can read it, and discuss it here: "Ruinous Love" Discussion Thread.
Here's wishing everyone a good start to the new decade. May we still be here talking when the next one rolls around.
David
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Justin Patrick Moore
Tue, 01/07/2020 - 10:16
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Don't Die In the Waiting Room of the Future
My motto for the year comes from the last book I read in 2019, "Burning Down the Haus: Punk Rock, Revolution and the Fall of the Berlin Wall" by Tim Mohr. It's about the punk scene in East Germany in the 80's leading up to the fall of the iron curtain. Fascinating and inspiring how much the Stasi tried to surpress them, but they didn't let it stop them. They had a phrase they spray painted on buildings that translates as "Don't Die in the Waiting Room of the Future".
Though I do have some specific "resolutions" for the year... (guideposts is more accurate, or habits as David mentioned)... this is more of a motto that I will carry with me in my mind: Don't put things off, because you never know what might happen. Do it now. As such the song "Waiting Room" by Fugazi has been in my mind... some of the lyrics and link to it are below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMOAXm94VWo
"But I don't sit idly by
I'm planning a big surprise
I'm gonna fight for what I wanna be
And I won't make the same mistakes ('cause I know)
Because I know how much time that wastes (and function)
Function is the key"