Happy Neophile Day!

Yup, it's Neophile Day, a day when everybody acts like us.  There's a lot of gratitude, a bit of hedonism, and a mad orgy of planning and dreaming.  Needless to say, I love it.  And, at least for me, it's relatively easy to keep this holiday all year long — if I don't, I go dizzy ninjas and break things.  ;)

I didn't do much of anything yesterday but travel, but don't worry, I'm planning to make up for some of the lost hedonism today.  I also have a day off tomorrow with possible kungfu and definite hockey, which is an awesome ending to a vacation, and very welcome.  (Usually my vacations end with the errand-running equivalent of someone throwing a drum-kit down a flight of stairs.)

So what about the rest of the traditional celebration?  Mad orgy of planning and dreaming, here we go!  (And if your plans are interesting, of course I'd love to hear them!)

Things I'd like to Achieve this year:

• At least one major writing project, if not published then ready for publication
• More stories and songs written
• At least one public performance of a finished song
• Make the new apartment nice and set-up, unpacked and organized
• Send holiday and birthday greetings!  (I tried and failed to do this this year, d'oh.)
• NOTE: These are mostly for me, but this isn't to imply that I will, or want to, lead a selfish life!  It's understood for me that the health and welfare of my daughter and my husband come first.  My challenge is to make sure I don't get so sucked into work and everything else that I don't accomplish any of my own goals.  Writing them down helps!

Defaults I'd like to Improve or Adjust:

• Getting my naps.  I miss a lot of naps now because I don't put my foot down about it.  I could have much closer to a straight Everyman 3/3 schedule if I was stricter, and I want that extra time in the coming year!
• Drink more water (and if that works, other diet tweaks) — I can maintain a "good" diet now, but it could be better in several ways.  The water thing, though, really isn't optional.  ::shakes finger at self::
• Ab exercises — I could SO have a six-pack with just a little more work!  Also, high-speed swimming requires mad ab-strength, and I skimp on those exercises if allowed to.
• Writing at a regular time, instead of "when I can fit it in", which works less well the busier I get — and I expect to be busy as all heck this year.
• Eat more protein; my diet is still way carb-heavy.  I'd also like to get better about eating fresh vegetables (which will improve my dragon's diet too!)

Principles I'd like to Embody / Better Grok:

• Move in harmony with cycles — sleep, physical, emotional, other people's, etc.  
• The now is primary; past and future are secondary
• Keep your hands open:  Accept what comes; let go what leaves.
• Keep your eyes open:  See clearly and admit what you're looking at.
• PAY ATTENTION:  Something might happen at any moment!

Things I'd like to Avoid this year:

• Unnecessary opining or involvement in other people's affairs … I have a much wider social circle now, which means more carefully drawing boundary-lines
• Time-wasters (unscheduled gaming / TV / internet time, mostly)
• Energy-wasters (destructive thinking / worrying, useless judging, self-doubt)
• Defeatism / lack of confidence:  Confidence is a choice; make it.
• Black moods:  I can see these coming and stop them early if I try hard enough!

Lessons from Last Year to Remember:

• Be careful to set expectations where you can manage them
• Time spent listening to loved ones is never wasted time
• The harder honesty is, the more important it is
• You have to take risks to make gains
• It's important to recognize what part of the process you're in, and to act accordingly.  Big things take bigger chunks of time, and you can't rush them.
• Compassion is worth the effort even if it doesn't work
• Same with creativity:  Don't be afraid to express yourself even if the environment doesn't seem friendly to it.