Reflections on Happiness and Resolve
I don't remember how I stumbled upon The Happiness Project, but it's been several months and I like a lot of what Gretchen Rubin has to say. Her book should arrive any day! She repeats her main points enough over the course of time that the best bits come to mind, such as her "Secrets of Adulthood".
On New Year's Eve, the first one feels true: "The days are long but the years are short." It's easy for me to be especially reflective on NYE, because January 1st is also my wedding anniversary. Tomorrow marks two years of being married, and while it seems sometimes like we've been married *forever* (in a good way!), it's really only been a short time. I need to remember that, and deal gently with my expectations.
Along with many, I'm not sorry to see 2009 go. I'm not sure I'm officially making any resolutions (though Gretchen Rubin has a zillion things to say about them here). I could resolve to read more (the resolution suggested yesterday by a local librarian), read Dickens (which I've promised for years to a friend in Wales), and read my To Be Read pile. I could resolve to be a better person, a thinner person, or a more grateful person. All of these would benefit my life.
But as 2010 wings its way toward me, full of opportunity and hope, I recommend resolve.
Merriam-Webster online gives the 4th definition of resolve in verb form as "to deal with successfully : clear up <resolve doubts> <resolve a dispute> b : to find an answer to c : to make clear or understandable"
In 2010 I want to live with the determination to reject ambiguity and seek clarity in all things. No muddling through, no fuzzy denials. This should aid me in my quest for serenity, tranquility, and creativity.
But as a noun, "resolve" means "fixity of purpose, resoluteness."
So, as 2009 draws to a close, my recommendation for myself is to tie all of this together, to marry these ideas: happiness, finding answers, and fixity of purpose. Let's have resolve, let's be determined, to choose happiness every single day (even though some days it's very hard!). Not a simple waiting of the proverbial blue bird of happiness to alight for a moment, then disappear, but to find the joy available to us in e circumstance, if we will but seek it.
(Image via www.lipglosstheory.com)
On New Year's Eve, the first one feels true: "The days are long but the years are short." It's easy for me to be especially reflective on NYE, because January 1st is also my wedding anniversary. Tomorrow marks two years of being married, and while it seems sometimes like we've been married *forever* (in a good way!), it's really only been a short time. I need to remember that, and deal gently with my expectations.
Along with many, I'm not sorry to see 2009 go. I'm not sure I'm officially making any resolutions (though Gretchen Rubin has a zillion things to say about them here). I could resolve to read more (the resolution suggested yesterday by a local librarian), read Dickens (which I've promised for years to a friend in Wales), and read my To Be Read pile. I could resolve to be a better person, a thinner person, or a more grateful person. All of these would benefit my life.
But as 2010 wings its way toward me, full of opportunity and hope, I recommend resolve.
Merriam-Webster online gives the 4th definition of resolve in verb form as "to deal with successfully : clear up <resolve doubts> <resolve a dispute> b : to find an answer to c : to make clear or understandable"
In 2010 I want to live with the determination to reject ambiguity and seek clarity in all things. No muddling through, no fuzzy denials. This should aid me in my quest for serenity, tranquility, and creativity.
But as a noun, "resolve" means "fixity of purpose, resoluteness."
So, as 2009 draws to a close, my recommendation for myself is to tie all of this together, to marry these ideas: happiness, finding answers, and fixity of purpose. Let's have resolve, let's be determined, to choose happiness every single day (even though some days it's very hard!). Not a simple waiting of the proverbial blue bird of happiness to alight for a moment, then disappear, but to find the joy available to us in e circumstance, if we will but seek it.
Posted by Keri Collins at 12/31/2009 5:27 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: resolutions happiness project new year's eve
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: resolutions happiness project new year's eve
Beautifully put! What a great word to capture so many distinct yet related ideas. I'm also very excited to read about your shift in blog direction. I always enjoyed your book reviews, but now I get even more facets of Keri--wohoo! I told my mom about your blog tonight, and she put it nicely: "Oh, so I can keep up with Keri's life!"
BTW, I was tickled to learn that we were both struck with blog inspiration at about the same time. As you may have discovered already, I decided to embark on a big revamp on New Year's Day. I spent the next 2 days glued to my laptop!
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