#1 2015: Better than the years previous
Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 6:45 pm
This isn't meant to be one of those trite New Years' Resolution threads. Instead, it's meant to be a bit more intent than that.
For my part, I'm going to try each day to make that day better than the previous, for both myself and others. The challenge will be doing so when I'm floating on my usual sea of depression - to still be willing to be with friends, to create, and to try to thrive, even on the days when I want the entire world to go lock itself behind it's own door for a while.
What this means in non-metaphorical terms is:
- Starting a workout routine again. Motion and effort always help me feel more connected to both myself and the world around me. The point for this will not be impressive results, but regular results.
- Writing instead of talking myself out of it. This one is rather simple - stop talking myself out of doing things I enjoy.
- Be less anti-social. This means that even if I'm in a mood, I need to stop separating myself away from everyone, and then wondering why my mood isn't improving. I also need to remember to be better at listening, and let go of feeling a need to judge others for their lives.
I'm not posting this in some passive-aggressive attempt at guilting others into following my example - however, I would encourage everyone to try making their own lives a little better this year, even in small ways. Last year was vicious for many of us. We are all adults with lives now, and are far too old and wise to expect that there's someone coming with a magical solution to save us. Most of those supposed "magical solutions" come with steep price tags in the fine print, anyway.
The true definition of compassion, after all, is being willing to extend a hand to others while expecting no recompense when the same hasn't been done for you - because you know what it's like to have to stand up on your own.
Solutions that work to help us to live better lives are never magical, and for that, we value them all the more.
I truly do wish everyone a good year - may it be a better one than the years previous for all of us.
For my part, I'm going to try each day to make that day better than the previous, for both myself and others. The challenge will be doing so when I'm floating on my usual sea of depression - to still be willing to be with friends, to create, and to try to thrive, even on the days when I want the entire world to go lock itself behind it's own door for a while.
What this means in non-metaphorical terms is:
- Starting a workout routine again. Motion and effort always help me feel more connected to both myself and the world around me. The point for this will not be impressive results, but regular results.
- Writing instead of talking myself out of it. This one is rather simple - stop talking myself out of doing things I enjoy.
- Be less anti-social. This means that even if I'm in a mood, I need to stop separating myself away from everyone, and then wondering why my mood isn't improving. I also need to remember to be better at listening, and let go of feeling a need to judge others for their lives.
I'm not posting this in some passive-aggressive attempt at guilting others into following my example - however, I would encourage everyone to try making their own lives a little better this year, even in small ways. Last year was vicious for many of us. We are all adults with lives now, and are far too old and wise to expect that there's someone coming with a magical solution to save us. Most of those supposed "magical solutions" come with steep price tags in the fine print, anyway.
The true definition of compassion, after all, is being willing to extend a hand to others while expecting no recompense when the same hasn't been done for you - because you know what it's like to have to stand up on your own.
Solutions that work to help us to live better lives are never magical, and for that, we value them all the more.
I truly do wish everyone a good year - may it be a better one than the years previous for all of us.