New Year's Resolution 2012

We're in the final few hours of 2011 and I can honestly say I've never looked forward to a new year as much as this one. I'm bidding farewell to my jobless, post-surgical, daytime-TV-watching, living-with-my-parents lifestyle and trading it in for a fantastic new job, my own apartment (sans roommate), and one less annoyingly painful bone in my right foot. It's going to be a good year.

In 2010 I decided to start making only one resolution every year after failing miserably to complete my 2009 laundry list of to-dos. This proved to be far more effective, so I continued the trend for 2011.

Last year's resolution was about financial giving. It was inspired by a blog post series called Stuff I Wish Everybody Knew About Money written by a friend of mine who runs an amazing church ministry in Kenosha, Wisconsin. While I didn't agree with everything, it certainly made me think about my attitude towards money and giving.

I decided to be more intentional about supporting specific causes so that I could feel more connected to them through giving. I made a spreadsheet and added the line item to my monthly budget in Mint like the giant Type a nerd I am. In all honesty, I could have done better. I should be giving more than I do, but the resolution led to a few good habits that will be the foundation of a lifetime of meaningful charitable giving.

This is why I'm such a fan of the singular new year's resolution - it leads to actual behavior change. Stating your goals publicly also helps. This brings me to my 2012 resolution, which is to spend less time complaining.

This is partially an attempt to reconcile lingering bitterness over being voted "Biggest Complainer" by my high school classmates. Unfortunately, they were right, and as much as I loathe the fact that educators sanction this sort of public humiliation, I couldn't exactly complain about it.

Mostly, this resolution is about focusing on the infinitely more interesting, important, and productive topics to discuss rather than my inept cab driver or incorrect Starbucks order - like how you're doing, for example.

So, here's to a new year, a new start in NYC, another softball championship (shoutout to my Buzz teammates) and a 2012 filled with interesting conversation and a lot less complaining.

Unemployment Part II

I never realized how distracting work can be until I freed myself from it. I have seen, heard, tasted, felt, and experienced more intensely these past couple weeks and have found inspiration in the most surprising places, which I'm doubtful would have happened had I been focused on work.

A sampling of my jobless journey to self-fulfillment:

• I went to the beach at 1:00am and made a point of feeling the sand between all ten of my toes, then proceeded to dance like an idiot. (we're talking country line dancing, irish jigging, the waltz)
• I went to Six Flags Great Adventure and experienced what if feels like to fly. (seriously, you have to check out the Superman ride - it's a roller coaster on your stomach)
• I ate a funnel cake the size of my head, guilt-free. It was worth every last calorie.
• I saw an old Mexican dude playing Justin Bieber on the subway and asked the people around me if they, too, found this hilarious. This led to an amusing conversation with a stranger about the joys of life in NYC.
• I went to a jazz concert and felt syncopated rhythms and heard beats like I never had before. It turned me on to a genre of music that I've never fully appreciated.
• I danced the night away without wondering who was noticing me or if I looked cool.
• I randomly (on the same day, back-to-back) bumped into two individuals who have done me wrong and, to my surprise, felt nothing but compassion for them.
• I started a crazy long-distance diet and exercise challenge with my sister.
• I started cooking and even made brussle sprouts for the first time.
• I met someone who is also looking for more inspiring work and shared this list with him.
• I watched a youtube video that reminded me why this time is important to me.
• I danced alone in my apartment to September Radio on Pandora for a solid 30 minutes while my roommate was at work. (I highly recommend this next time you're home alone)
• I walked 40 blocks through Central Park as the sun set gloriously over the city, just to take it all in
• I felt the power of the earth moving beneath me as I sat on the shore during the earthquake. 
• I saw a young man making the sweetest coupon book for someone on the subway - likely broke and crazy in love.
• I've been writing again.

On August 24th, I wrote these words in my personal journal:

I'm happy. I don't know why, but I'm happy.  

I'm going to figure out what feels good and right and I'm going to do that. In the meantime, I will play and love and treat myself well.