New Years Intentions

You know, the longer I go without posting, the worse I feel every time I see the little Firefox bookmark for this site. I am not here to resolve to write more often, because I am not at all convinced that I will. But the urge suddenly struck, and some things require more than 140 characters, and so I post.

As you might have guessed, I have settled into my new life in the SF Bay Area. I live in Oakland, and I have one quarter of my Masters degree under my belt. (To clarify, my school runs on a quarter system, so what I actually mean is that we just finished the Fall 2008 quarter. Which actually accounts for I think 1/12 of my program, not 1/4. Sigh.) 

The last 4 months of 2008 were an intense whirlwind of change, growth, exploration, head-shaving, reading, and paper-writing, among other things. I went back to (shockingly snow-covered) BC for Christmas, and spent ten days enjoying the company of family and close friends, new and old. 

And now it's 2009, the year in which I will turn 30... and I've got a few thoughts about it.

This year, I have a few aspirations/intentions/affirmations:

1. I will remember that happiness is available NOW. (Thanks Christopher Roy for the link yesterday!) Not tomorrow, not once I have finished this paper or that assignment, not when I can afford to travel again, not any time other than NOW. What was I waiting for?
2. I will be gentle with myself and others.
3. I will spend less time on Facebook and Twitter, and more time knitting or playing the guitar. 
4. I will cultivate more close and loving relationships around me in my new life.
5. I will ask for and create the 30th birthday party that I most want.
6. I will stop drinking lattes habitually (because the cost is too high both to my wallet and to my actual feeling of well-being) and will limit myself to a maximum of one really good one a week, and only if I want it.
7. I will plan out a menu for the week each weekend, create a shopping list, and stick to it, to prevent myself from impulse buying and to encourage myself to eat well, and cook more interesting things.

Lucky number seven seems like a good place to leave that list. I wish you all the best in 2009!!