Goodbye 2013 - Hello 2014!

I realized as I was pulling myself together for this entry that last year, I completely failed to post a list of 2013 resolutions. The bright side of that oversight is that I don't have to hang my head in shame for not accomplishing everything on the 2013 list of resolutions. But, it also means I have nothing to pin to my aspirational accomplishments board.

In 2012 there was some pressure to deliver once those resolutions were posted, but many good things came out that list. 

Looking back, 2013 was a year of continued efforts, transitions, and separations.

• I have continued my studies at the Kadampa Center. Not only have I continued the Discovering Buddhism classes, but I became a supporting member of the Center in October and took my lay vows in December, which allowed me to officially update my Facebook Beliefs field to Buddhist. 
• I continued my push through the 100 Best English Novels of the 20th Century - only 15 more to go. 
• I resisted a very strong desire to leave my current job in search of another once my best work buddy Arjay got his dream job at another company. Ten months later, I am so happy I resisted the temptation of possibly greener pastures. I now see a definite future for myself at Lulu that I hope will see me through many happy years of employment.
• I ended my relationship with Carl. Although for me it was the right thing to do, I regret my lack of compassion in how it was executed. It was callous, cowardly and needlessly hurtful to him. 
• I came to the realization that a 50 year old body has its limitations after injuring my foot during a pleasant afternoon run, which was immediately followed by a back injury just prior to the holidays.

Now that we are nearly two weeks into 2014, it's time to publicly declare my resolutions for the coming year.

With you as my witness, I resolve:

• Meatless Mondays shall continue (as will a slow expansion of meatless meals throughout the week).
• From this day forward, there shall be no television viewed in the home on Sunday before 7:00 PM. (This is a compromise resolution. Initially there was serious thought that there would be no television at home, but unlike my dear friend John M., I am unable to relinquish my last connection to pop culture.)
• There shall be at least one blog post per week for 2014, including a midyear update to this list.
• Yoga shall be added to the fitness regime.
• There shall be at least two dinner parties planned and executed in my home as a way to show my appreciation for the family and friends who graciously feed me throughout the year.
• There shall be a new volunteer opportunity identified to which I can offer my talents. 
• There shall be a plot summary and character sketches written for a novel I have been considering for some time now.
• There shall be less than five books remaining to read on the list of 100 Best English Novels of the 20th Century (Stretch goal is to complete the list by the end of the year).
• A visit to the Asian branch of the family for late 2014 or early 2015 shall be planned. (Stretch goal: Trip to include cycling trip from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Cambodia. I may be looking for a traveling companion on this trip, but I can offer you a free place to stay in Singapore!)
• There shall be a colonoscopy (Lemmie Winks shall be rescued).
• There shall be a legal document composed for the disposition of my worldly goods upon my death.

Most importantly, I hope to create the causes for happiness in 2014. That means I must resist the gravitational pull of the sofa and my favorite reading chair. While my home is the place I feel most content, it can also be a barrier to experiencing the adventures of life.

To my friends, I hope you have a joyful year, absent of regrets and filled with people who make you laugh.

Happy 2014

Six Months in: Revisiting my 2012 Resolutions

One possible downside of posting your New Year Resolutions for everyone to see is that you may actually be held to them. This could also be an unintended benefit. So far, 2012 has been quite a memorable year - perhaps as a direct result of my diligent attempts to check a few items off this list.



So, here is my 2012 midyear resolution scorecard:
Score Card: Complete   In Progress   Not Started

1. Break out of my comfort level and take more risks (career choices, relationships, spiritually)
• Started a new job in March
• Started a new relationship - still early days on this one
• Completed a 10 week introduction to Buddhism course, which may have led me to a welcoming spiritual community.
2. Pay off my car by July (two years early) and increase my emergency fund by $5000
• The car will be paid off in September (23 months early)
• Emergency fund up by $4000 (thanks to a consultancy gig)
3. Pay off credit card debt by the end of the year.
4. Read at least 10 more of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century (only 31 to go)
• Eight books read (well three are from a single series, but still....)
5. Rearrange my schedule and go to the gym in the morning before work
6. Spend more time with cherished friends and make the effort to cultivate new friendships
7. Have at least two fully planned and executed parties for friends and family
8. Plan "Glenn days" for body and soul replenishment
9. Say "I love you" more often - but only when I mean it

This year I included quite a few subjective resolutions that cannot be empirically measured. If the world does not come to an end on the winter solstice, I think the 2013 list or resolutions will focus on more concrete items with definitive end-points. Until then, I should get busy planning a party or two.

What have you checked off your list?

Thoughts from the Octagon

Ow, ow, ow, ow

Today was my fourth day back in the gym and I have been sticking to my 2012 resolution of hitting the gym in the morning before work. I have also been taking a few aerobic classes at night to get myself back into shape following the holidays. Tonight I took a body combat class followed by a core strengthening class.


A few thoughts occurred to me over the hour:

• I punch like a girl. A real girlie-girl - not like the highly trained, tough women in this class who have wicked upper cuts and lightning fast jabs.
• I kick as if I am in a chorus line, but not as gracefully.
• The abdominal muscle I grew over the holidays is big, but not very strong.
• I feel as if I were beat and kicked to within an inch of my life by Elena - our muscular, Russian, female instructor.
• There is already pain - so there must be some gain.
• Five more weeks to get this body back in shape. There is no place to hide flab in a bathing suit on board a cruise ship. And, my people are very judgmental - you know who you are....

Ow, ow, ow, ow....

Goodbye 2011 - Hello 2012

This morning, as I was lying in bed wondering if everyday of my 49th year was going to feel like a hangover, I reflected on the past year and started thinking about the year to come. One nice thing about having a birthday at the butt end of the year is that the retrospective holiday special includes all twelve of the previous months.

2011 was a year of travel beginning with our yearly Caribbean cruise in February with John and Jay from Fort Lauderdale, as well as with friends from Chicago, Germany, England, and other far-flung parts of the world. The ports were pretty boring in themselves this time out, but we kept busy with massages, excursions (ATV tour, zip lines, and Mayan ruins), parties, dinners, and trips to the shipboard clinic for John's crushed finger. This was followed by a trip to Chicago over Memorial day, an unexpected trip to Asia to visit the branch of the family taking root on the other side of the world, and a Thanksgiving excursion to visit John and Jay.

2011 was also a year of huge work projects as well as several large organizational changes that have left me feeling a bit rudderless. I was chatting with Alex last night and told him changes with my job were slowly sucking away my mojo - of course that comment could also be due to the end of the year blues, the slow progression of the years, or the gathering gravitational force of my sofa. Nonetheless, besides the several end of year trips I have taken, I have been quite the homebody over the past six months - early to bed, early to rise, and mostly hangover-free....

At Christmas dinner, my dear friend Clodagh asked everyone at the table about their new year resolutions. Since I had not started thinking of them as yet, I came up with the boring response of working to be more frugal while still maintaining my semi-fabulous lifestyle - hence my frenzy of retail therapy to close out 2011 - a boy has to shop after all!

This morning, between the pulsation of PBR-induced head pains, I conducted a more thorough inventory of the things I would like to work on in the coming year.

1. Break out of my comfort level and take more risks (career choices, relationships, spiritually)
2. Pay off my car by July (two years early) and increase my emergency fund by $5000
3. Have no credit card debt at the end of the year (The trip to Asia slammed my budget, I have two more big trips planned, but there are no regrets on that account)
4. Read at least 10 more of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century (only 31 to go)
5. Rearrange my work schedule to go to the gym in the morning before arriving in the office
6. Spend more time with cherished friends and make the effort to cultivate new friendships
7. Have at least two fully planned and executed parties for friends and family
8. Plan "Glenn days" for body and soul replenishment
9. Say "I love you" more often - but only when I mean it

It is going to be a busy year! Stay tuned.

Here's to wishing you all a very happy, healthy, and prosperous 2012.
Much love,
Glenn