First Blog Of The Year

I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. Normally when people talk about resolutions I just smile and nod. It’s not that I think resolutions are bad necessarily, I just know that most people won’t keep them.

In fact I’m pretty bad about not keeping my own resolutions. Will this year be any different? That depends on what we resolve to do. When you have unrealistic resolutions, then it’s very easy to fail, and call yourself a failure. But we need to learn to be optimistically realistic.

How else can we find success? We want to reach new heights, but yet we tend to overestimate our own abilities. We have to balance what we know we can do with what we think we can do.

I’ve decided not to make crazy resolutions, like writing three books, or becoming a successful blogger, or anything like that. Those are things I can do– but I want to resolve to be. Instead of doing something I know I can do (but probably won’t have time to) I’ve decided to learn something new, and improve myself. I can basically do anything if I have the time and energy, and I’ve proven over and over again I can do those things for short periods.

I’ve started learning to speak Japanese with a program called Mango Languages, which is freely available through our local library. I’m about 4 days in, and so far I’m loving it. I also want to learn some kind of new exercise discipline- maybe one of martial arts. I’m somewhat limited in my choices, but it’s something I’m interested in doing as physical self-improvement.

So what are your New Year’s resolutions? I suggest instead of saying “I’m finally going to get around to doing that thing that I never have time for” that you find something new to do, something to learn, something that relies more on your brain than your time management skills (of which mine are horribly lacking).

So, Happy New Year!
Sayonara, kiotsukete!