According to a friend, I'm "the kind of person who would make New Year's resolutions." I'm not quite sure what the means or how to interpret it, but in any case it's true. I actually made quite a few, but I'll only share the most important ones here:I. Write the date correctly all year.
For those of you who know me, you'll take note that this is among my resolutions every year. Up to this point, last year was my best attempt. Whereas my hyperattention usually wanes in April, last year I made it to August before my brain turned itself off. I wrote on a receipt at the airport that it was 2002. Pathetic.
II. Write regularly to my Spanish family.
Not maintaining stable contact with my host family in Córdoba is an enormous regret that I have. The four months that I spent with them in 2009 was one of the most important and life changing experiences that I've ever had - not only because I was living and traveling in Spain, but because the connection that I forged with the family (especially my host sister) was very strong. However, on my last night there, my host dad, in a moment of weakness and cynicism, launched into a huge speech about how it was nice to have had me, but in the end the family only hosted for economic reasons and although the time was fun, we would lose contact like all the rest of the students they'd hosted. I assured them that that wouldn't be true, but lo and behold, the contact waned as I became overwhelmed with the obligations of college life in California. After a number of uncomfortable confrontations from my sister about how I let her and the family down, I asked for a clean start yesterday, which she granted me. I am resolute to make it work.
III. Read more news.
Being in touch with what's happening with the world of politics, economics and current events is, in my opinion, an important part of being educated. As such, I'm trying to read more news and broaden the scope of what I know. While getting news from Big Dave's and Jeremia's facebook status updates is informative, it is also about 75% of the time a link to something like a YouTube video of someone saying the word "Ho" on Jeopardy or a disgusting beast of a man trying to eat 40 pizza pockets in two minutes. For those interested, he doesn't manage to do it, but he leaves the camera on as he eats the remainder as a sort of dessert.
IV. Seek more adventure.
I'm young, healthy, have very few obligations, live in a foreign country and am curious to find out what makes the Earth spin. The way I see it, I should be doing nothing other than seeking adventure. And on top of that, finding adventure is simple - I just have to be open to any and all opportunities and people. "Hey Reid, do you want to go outside with me at midnight on New Years and set off this 20 meter Spanish firecracker that is for all intents and purposes a bunch of small bombs strung together? Oh hey Reid, do you want to go stand in the freezing cold and watch a bunch of super fit European women go cross country skiing with guns on their backs? Reid, are you interested in putting on these Lederhosen for a Christmas photo shoot? Yo Reid, would you be down to..." don't finish. The answer is yes. This year I'm going to try and accumulate experiences, because experiences lead to memories and memories are what make life rich. Along the way I'm going to see how ignoring that voice in your head that says "This may be a stupid idea" plays a role in finding adventures. My guess is that it's pretty important.
Now the only question that remains is: will you help me find adventure in 2011?
First, ditto the last one. And, in response yo your ultimate question, I sure can. How about you visit me in Bulgaria?
ReplyDeleteHey,
ReplyDeleteI'm not quite sure what the means or how to interpret it, but in any case it's true. You will take note that in my proposal every year of this note. To this point, last year was my best effort. Last year I made it in August before turning my brain off myself. However, on my last night, my host's father, in the moment of weakness and selfishness, was in a huge lecture about how nice it was, but ultimately the family hosted only for economic reasons and While the time was fun, we would all host the host to lose contact like the rest. Paste is a different religious post because this post is showing current times and images. We like more of these types of posts.
Hey,
ReplyDeleteI'm not quite sure what the means or how to interpret it, but in any case it's true. You will take note that in my proposal every year of this note. To this point, last year was my best effort. Last year I made it in August before turning my brain off myself. However, on my last night, my host's father, in the moment of weakness and selfishness, was in a huge lecture about how nice it was, but ultimately the family hosted only for economic reasons and While the time was fun, we would all host the host to lose contact like the rest. Paste is a different religious post because this post is showing current times and images. We like more of these types of posts.