Hey guys! I’m about two weeks late, but I still wanted to wish everyone a very happy new year and share some resolutions for 2011! Last year was pretty bipolar, but I’m happy to say it ended on the upside. I’m hoping I’ll be able to carry on that momentum! I think I did a pretty decent job with most of my resolutions last year, but I definitely want to expand on them.
- Be more zen!
Over winter break, I got stranded at Chicago Midway airport. I didn’t let it get to me because there was nothing I could do about the situation. And I felt awesome! I napped better in the airport and on the planes and I didn’t get sick like I normally do traveling. I think not stressing out made a huge difference. Now, if I could only apply this to other areas of my life! - Sleep more!
I say this every year, but it’s worth being said. =) - Cook more!
I love cooking and cooking for others, and eating out makes me sick (literally)… so clearly I should seek out more opportunities to cook! Plus, I just got a slow cooker and my BFF sent me a pizza stone for Christmas! (Or as she says, not a late Christmas gift but an early MLK Jr. Day gift. =P) - Exercise!
Ok, this one I didn’t do so well with last year haha, but I am seriously going to put in more of an effort this year. I’m taking up swing dancing, and I’m hoping I’ll have enough friends to go with me to help me stick to it! Chasing after shuttles and buses doesn’t really count as exercise! - Prioritize my health.
This has been a hard lesson to learn, but I’ve definitely realized the value of taking time out for self-maintenance. I can’t do everything 100% and sometimes I can’t even do everything to any percentage, but that’s ok. Doing my best means figuring in a buffer for my own health, because if I don’t, then I can’t do anything well. - Three Beautiful Things & other exercises in mindfulness.
I started writing down three things I was thankful for everyday and I think it really did improve my mood. What really struck me about the exercise was how hard it was for me to choose only 3 things I was thankful for in a day and it reminds me how lucky I really am. I’d like to start doing that again. I also learned this awesome de-stressing breathing exercise at a seminar earlier last quarter and it REALLY WORKS! I just wish I could remember to do it more often when I’m actually stressing out! - Use more, buy less.
I will be posting my stash inventory for 2010 soon. I didn’t really stick to this resolution last year, I’d really like to be better at it this year. - Read more.
I started reading again over break, I’d love to keep this up! - Write more.
Same as last year: In addition to writing more, and writing better for this blog, I would really like to pick up my letter-writing again. I wrote a lot of letters to penpals and friends across the country and across the world earlier in my undergraduate career and I definitely miss it.
And of course, I’d like to thank everyone for your kind comments and support and friendship in the last year. I wouldn’t blog if it weren’t something immensely rewarding to me, and I’m so thankful that I’ve found such a warm and supportive community to be a part of. Here’s to a wonderful 2011! :D :D :D
Holiday presents, stash inventory, best of 2010 and NOTDs coming up soon, so stay tuned! :D