A Look Back at 2009 New Year's Resolutions

I cannot believe that it is that time of year again. I was just reading my 2008 Year in Review, and it feels like I wrote it yesterday! I wanted to review what my new year's resolutions were back then and whether I had developed in those areas in some small way.

Last year, I wrote that I wanted to develop my "emotional resilience" -- in other words - "get over myself as quickly as possible". I think I have definitely improved in that area. I don't stay upset for very long- at least not more than a day at most. When I'm blue, I own up to the fact that I am blue. And then it is not so bad... Also, anytime I feel bitter, I work to break through that narrowing way of being, and open my heart.

My other 2009 new year's resolutions, and results in italics:
(1) increase tolerance and minimize judgement of others
My progress has been slow, and sometimes it feels like I've made no progress at all. But how much progress I really have made was certainly highlighted at a recent family reunion. We were visiting my sick grandfather when one family member made a judgmental comment about one of my relatives. The relative being discussed had been judged and judged throughout the decades, and as a result had formed a protective attitude towards the rest of the family. I told the family member who had made this judgement my analysis of the situation, which we were all contributors to. And I think they were a bit surprised to hear such truth coming from one of the younger generation. It was then that I realized that I had come farther along than I had thought. VERDICT: POSITIVE GROWTH.

(2) listen to my gut
I believe this is going to be an ongoing project for me. Very small decisions, like what color camera I should buy, can take forever for me to make (they all suck!). I leave Mark to make decisions with regards to decor and party entrees, because he is so good at that stuff. But to sum up, I think I have become a much improved decision maker. At work, I've even gotten the reputation for being a firm, and good common-sense decision maker, which is so opposite what I was even a few years ago. This all stems from following my gut, which, I believe, reflects subconscious calculation. Everytime my gut says something, I analyze why I feel that way, and often times, there is a reason that is so complex and refined, it is hard to describe in words, but definitely there. Verdict: POSITIVE GROWTH.

(3) care for others and focus less on myself
What a joke. This is the area where I think I have made the least progress. I feel a lot of empathy for people who are suffering. However, I don't bear as much good will towards people who are doing well. This is something that I have to continue to work on- to be happy for people who are successful. Verdict: AREA OF OPPORTUNITY.

(4) be better with finances
I vow to do this every year. And I don't think I have gained a whole lot in the area of investing or saving. However, much of my spendings have gone into the house this year, and into our refinancing project. Many people couldn't even refinance this year in light of the economic recession. So in light of this progress: POSITIVE GROWTH.

(5) be more eloquent
Again, it is one of those things I need to work on. I would especially like work on responding faster on my feet. What should I do? I already speak often at meetings, maybe I should try and speak up more? Practice expressing complex ideas to people on random occasions? My Dad feels that public speaking on the fly is a reflection of intelligence. I don't necessarily agree with him completely. However, building neural connections between one's brain, and one's verbal abilities DOES exercise one's intellect. Sometimes, I am too lazy to even express what I did over the weekend. VERDICT: AREA OF OPPORTUNITY.

(6) exercise my brain on occasion, maybe know world affairs
Hah. Good luck with that. I'm still playing video games (currently Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2) and would prefer to learn about the virtual weapons that I am using rather than learn about what is actually going on in the world. I did read a variety of biographies and non-fiction, so maybe I am not a total loss. Verdict: AREA OF OPPORTUNITY.

(7) continue to write on a frequent basis
This has not happened as much as I would like. I wrote half as many blog entries as I did last year. And many of those entries were 2 sentences long. I need to watch less of our ginormous flat screen TV, and do more writing! Verdict: AREA OF OPPORTUNITY.

To be continued...