Each year, in celebration of my natal anniversary, I make a list of all of the things I would like to achieve in my next year of life. Most of these things are small. I think it may have been Oprah who said something about the importance of setting achievable goals. "You shouldn't say, 'I'm going to get a raise this year,' because you cannot choose to give yourself a raise," I seem to recall her explaining. "Instead, say, 'I'm going to work hard and be an employee who is deserving of a raise.'" Not one to defy Oprah, I took her advice to heart.
There are many things in life that are simply out of my reach. I can't stop people from taking me for granted. I can't make someone fall in love with me. I can't give myself a promotion. But there are plenty of things that I can do. I can be assertive and stand up for myself. I can practice recognizing my own assets and building up my confidence. And I can bowl. By god, I can bowl*.
The items on my list are very rarely about emotional growth, or doing better at work. They are about spending time with the people in my life who matter most to me. They're about having fun and living in the moment. They're about helping others as best as I can and as often as I can. They are, quite literally, about bowling. And, more often than not, at least one is about running.
This year, one of the things on my list was to write more. Technically, I do write daily. I write newsletter articles. I write tweets. I write business emails. I write brochures. I write text for PowerPoints. I write proposals. I write website content. I write all sorts of things. Often, I even enjoy what I am writing, but I don't actually write for enjoyment.
So in this year of my life (even though my birthday was a little over a month ago), I am making a return to writing. Specifically a return to writing with the sole intention of making myself laugh.
*but not well
There are many things in life that are simply out of my reach. I can't stop people from taking me for granted. I can't make someone fall in love with me. I can't give myself a promotion. But there are plenty of things that I can do. I can be assertive and stand up for myself. I can practice recognizing my own assets and building up my confidence. And I can bowl. By god, I can bowl*.
The items on my list are very rarely about emotional growth, or doing better at work. They are about spending time with the people in my life who matter most to me. They're about having fun and living in the moment. They're about helping others as best as I can and as often as I can. They are, quite literally, about bowling. And, more often than not, at least one is about running.
This year, one of the things on my list was to write more. Technically, I do write daily. I write newsletter articles. I write tweets. I write business emails. I write brochures. I write text for PowerPoints. I write proposals. I write website content. I write all sorts of things. Often, I even enjoy what I am writing, but I don't actually write for enjoyment.
So in this year of my life (even though my birthday was a little over a month ago), I am making a return to writing. Specifically a return to writing with the sole intention of making myself laugh.
*but not well
