...Rules to Live By in 2010...

========================================
resolution:: [rez-uh-loo-shuhn] the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.
rule:: [rul] a principle or regulation governing conduct, action, procedure, arrangement, etc.
============================================

As I often do, I'm going to buck tradition this new year's eve and instead of making resolutions, I'm going to make rules. Rules to live by for 2010. I'm reading this interesting book by David Kessler, MD about our brains and how we can change our behaviors. Basically, Kessler says we can change our behavior through creating 'rules' for our brain. The longer we act by these rules (ie: I will not snack after 7pm) the more engrained they become in our behavior and become locked in the executive function of our brain. After a while, our brain just turns these 'rules' into normative behavior.

Whereas resolutions can become more of just anthems we live by instead of things that actually change our behavior. Or, they just become a check-list of things we do instead of helping us grow through them.

1. Let my mind see the sentence before my tongue says it.:: I often find myself saying the first thing that comes to mind and sometimes it would have came out so much better if I would have thought about it for a minute. It also opens the floodgates to be quick to anger or defensiveness.

2. Say yes (a bit) more.:: One of my defining characteristics is that I say "No." I say no when I don't feel like doing something that doesn't directly benefit my happiness. I try not to say no when I know saying yes would make someone else really happy - but I think I need to do more of it. Say yes to travel, yes to risk, yes to new cities and yes to new people and friends. Perhaps not yes to a new credit card.

3. Explore more kinds of music.:: In the few short weeks I've been home my sister has basically let me raid her iTunes playlists and I've discovered so many awesome new artists and albums. It was so nice to send out mix tapes for Christmas presents that had songs on them I knew my friends hadn't heard before or hadn't been played on the radio. I'd like to discover even more music!

4. Live Louder.:: Needless to say, spending the first three months of the year in Africa is most certainly the 'loudest' I've ever lived - but I want to make sure I take the attitude of searching out a higher meaning to my days carries through even when I'm back. I want to spend more time finding a job and making sure I'm living somewhere and doing something that makes me feel fulfilled not just fill my days. I want to be open to living anywhere. I want to be open to love. I want to be more open in general to all the things going on around me. I want to live out loud instead of in hi-fi.

5. Learn to cook a full chicken.:: I just think this is something I want to learn to do. In 2009 I mastered fried plantains, so I need a new food to master in 2010. If only for the fact that I know tons of things to do with shredded chicken, I just don't know how to do the part before the shredding. AND a good friend made me a roast chicken once that kind of changed my life.

6. Learn to can something - preferably pickles (the bread and butter flavor ones).:: Mostly as an homage to my country-livin' family, but secondly because it is an awesome way to (cheaply) make really awesome holiday baskets!

7. Embrace European attitudes towards food and wine (ie: lots of good wine and great meals).:: I need to expand my wine pallette and I also want to let go of the American attitude towards food which is: insatiable and constant appetites. I want to focus on a few really awesome meals each day that fill me up but don't put me into a coma. I want to explore more tea and coffee options. I want to make food an accessory to the outfit of life - not a pantsuit.