That would be Chinese New Year Resolutions. ‘Cause in my world, the new year just started.
I like that I got a month and a half reprieve from non-lunar calendar New Year Resolutions, since my number one top resolution is, as always, to stop procrastinating so much. A month and a half of procrastinating before I must give it up! Consulting the calendar (lunar or not) I see that we are officially three weeks into the year of the tiger so yet again my goal to end procrastination this year is FAIL. Oh well.
Resolutions for the Year of the Tiger:
- Procrastinate less FAIL (But I swear I will keep trying.)
- Drastically improve Mandarin and finish the Heisig book (such good intentions here, honestly!)
After I recommitted myself to this goal last year, I worked very hard for a while… and then I just didn’t. It’s frustrating here in Linyi because I can’t understand anything local people say. Then I seem to do okay in Beijing so I think I must be learning something. It’s gotten to the point where when people ask me how long I’ve lived here, I’m tempted to say “six months” so I don’t have to deal with the shame of not speaking Mandarin after four years… - Incorporate more creative pursuits into daily life
Create something! Take more photographs, write a story, sew something, draw. I don’t know, I just feel like I don’t do enough of this anymore. I just watch movies and look at magazines. And then I read my friend Tova’s blog and she’s making ball gowns and hair accessories and cooking up a storm and I feel like a big lazy loser.
- Exercise (another perennial favorite)
- Learn to love Linyi again, or at least tolerate her better
There are cracks in my fine expat existence. Linyi is not all she used to be. When I go out for walks, all I see are the coal-stained buildings and the litter in the street and I know I can be more positive than this. When the warm weather comes, if it ever does, the DH and I are going bike riding. Bike riding always makes us appreciate Linyi.
I would add something about eating more nutritious and healthy foods to the list, but in Linyi the kind of foods I think are healthy and nutritious are nowhere to be found. Besides, for the first time in my life I have normal cholesterol levels. So maybe the Linyi diet – indiscriminate consumption of lamb fat/pork fat, the way-too-occasional McDonald’s cheeseburger and lots of fried everything – is the secret to good health.
In addition to these resolutions, I have a big wish for the new year, but I’m afraid to type it here, don’t want to jinx it or anything. Just a favor – can you send some positive thoughts and good energy my way? Because I’m a firm believer in the power of the mind and maybe we can make my wish come true!
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Life is just like a big stage. We are all actors, big and small, passing by.
Not a single homosapien has the full glass or the holy grail, from kings to paupers.
Only by looking the glass as half full instead of half empty,
will one see, how so much better off most of us are, compared to so many around us
in this imperfect world.
How many in this world, had a chance to travel and experience what you had
experienced so far, in this journey of life?
Flow through life with minimum effort, with only positive thoughts, Shangrilah is all within us.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.
One step at a time.
Have a great Tiger year and more years to come, GlobalGirl.
Great and interesting Bolg.
ThirdEye
As always, you give me lots to think about!
I feel your #5!
Happy Tiger-New Year! And happy thoughts for your mysterious wish!
I would say that what you’re doing with this blog already qualifies as a creative pursuit, but I can completely understand what you mean when you say “create more”. Sometimes — even if I’ve been cranking out papers for school or updating the blog — I don’t feel like I’ve created anything ‘tangible’. But a lot of creativity can be abstract too — don’t sell yourself short!
.-= Yessica´s last blog ..SNJÓR! =-.
Thanks for that.