Intentions 2021
Don’t be the person that starts a new year’s resolution on the 1st of January. The first of the year should be the first day you feel like you’ve turned a new page into a new future that you’ve manifested for yourself. But the ground work and effort comes before that.
I know a lot of people are against new year’s resolutions, but I think that anytime within a 2-4 weeks prior to the New Years is a window of opportunity to make your vision a reality. Set an intention. Not a resolution. The motivation is internally created versus a socially constructed obligation that exists on the 1st of Jan. Intentions are made daily whereas a resolution is made on the 1st of the year. When the 1st does roll around, you’ve already started on your goals and you will start the year feeling better than ever. And if you don’t stick to your intentions a day here or there, it’s okay – tomorrow is a new day to try again.
I’m listing doable goals. No ‘lose weight’ or ‘sleep earlier – I’m only make resolutions that will aid in the things that I value the most. They’re on ‘paper’ so I’m accountable to you and myself.
Here are my intentions for the year 2021.
Read 1-2 books/month. Don’t restrict yourself to nonfiction, you know it takes you longer to read. People who read tend to form such concise thoughts when it’s their turn to write, and I hope that I can rehabilitate my ability to write well. I’m going to list books on my Books page as a way to remind myself what I have absorbed through the year.
Practice violin every day. It’s like exercise, once you stop – it’s hard to start again. It’s also a 2-step forward, and a 1-step back; you don’t want to look back 365 days later and think “what IF I was more dedicated then?”
Do some form of intense activity or exercise daily. It’s directly related to your mental health. Do it. It’s no longer “I’m going to get fit”, it’s “take care of your mind and body and they will take care of you”.
Keep yoga fun – Do it for yourself. If your muscles start to tire, take week breaks. This is a life long practice and you can’t injure yourself because your ego was too big. Practice genuinely and wholeheartedly, and the benefits will be far greater than you can imagine.
Spend HOURS in solitude. I want to reflect on my day to think about the relationships that I’ve attended to, the work that I did, the leisure I enjoyed. Ask myself, how did it go? Be introspective and see if I learned anything about how to be a kinder, empathetic, passionate giver and listener.
Produce; don’t consume. This goes for material goods as well as content. Shop sustainably if you have to shop, but try to find beauty in the things you already have. Limit digital consumption to 1 hr a day. That’s still a lot but it’s enough.