People are losing their patience, their ability to anticipate good things. This year, more than in years past, I received Christmas greetings starting with the 23rd. (Usually, it’s done here in Romania on the 24th and 25th.)
And I’ve started writing this piece on the 31st, without waiting for New Year’s Day, eager, as I am, to think about and share some of my realizations about what I should do to better my life.
You may be surprised to learn that, according to a Pew Research Center survey at least, two to three weeks into January, 13% of the people don’t lean at all into their New Year’s Resolutions. You may not be surprised to learn that 79% of people’s resolutions include some decisions—if they are, indeed, that—to take better care of their health. Other people turn their minds to finances, relationships with family and friends, hobbies, work, and other things. I’m surprised that love as an object of desire, so to speak, didn’t make an appearance as a category in Pew Research’s survey.
And then you may be shocked to find out, as I was, that 70% of Americans don’t like making these intentions, these promises to themselves—at least according to this survey of Jan. 16–21, 2024.
Here are some of my intentions for 2025.
But first, some thanksgiving for 2024.
I enjoyed—and that’s en-joyed—sharing life with many dear people, family, friends, and friendly acquaintances.
I attended some great music concerts and went to some nice art exhibitions.
I read some good books, including Daniel Goleman and Richard J. Davidson’s Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body (Avery, 2017), a book packed with fascinating info on meditation which allowed me to understand my practice—before bed—further and to add to it. Here’s an article about it.
Other books I really appreciated this year are Dr. Kara Fitzgerald’s Younger You: Reduce Your Bio Age and Live Longer, Better (Hachette Go, 2022)—here’s a review—and a Reader’s Digest book, Nature’s Medicines: A Guide to Herbal Medicines and What They Can Do for You (2007, based on the 2003 London edition. Here’s a review of the latter with Notes on 7 Medicinal Plants Commonly Used in Romania, which includes lots of recent scientific research as well. I’m discussing artichoke, milk thistle, sea buckthorn, caraway, chicory, dog rose (rose hips), and hawthorn.
I also read some nice fiction books, including Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo. Here’s one of my articles on it (you have a link to the second piece—shorter—in the text): “Sally Rooney’s ‘Intermezzo’, an Exemplary Achievement About the Power and Complications of Love.” It includes many spoilers, so beware.
I wrote some articles I’m happy with, more so than I usually am. Here they are:
I Believe in Nutritionists, But I Don’t Believe in Nutritionist-Prescribed Diets
‘Midnight Cowboy’ (1969): Revisiting the Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight Classic
As a side note, I found that writing often helps me write better, so if anyone would ask me what’s my first piece of advice for improving one’s writing, I’d say just that: write often; get in the habit of allowing language to organize itself in your head as writing, so that you’ll then feel compelled to write often.
I also watched some nice movies and TV series, including Emily in Paris, which I take delight in.
Other than that, not much traveling, if you don’t count some excursions in Bucharest and its vicinity. I need to get better at traveling. (I was good at it once.) There’s little else so enriching as visiting new places and sharing special moments with others, be they loved ones or strangers you meet and chat with in various places.
I’m thankful I got to spend more time in nature than in the past few years.
I promoted and sold some First Christmas Baby ornaments with I love you, Grandma / Grandpa / Godmother / Godfather / Aunt / Uncle, including a few created for twins.
I also lost some weight in 2024—7 kilos/15.4 pounds—and kept more than half those pounds off.
And now some of my New Year’s resolutions.
Live more in the company of my friends, so I’ll look for more events in the city to share with them. I usually meet my best friend for music concerts, of which there are aplenty in Bucharest. In case you’re wondering, I like classical, jazz, alternative, and rock—among other things.
Travel more throughout the country. There are many one-day trips available, which is great, because I’d also like to meet new people.
Read more paperbacks (as opposed to ebooks) and sell the paperbacks I’m done with (books I’d only want to read once). I’ve started winnowing my paperback collection more decidedly in the fall of 2024. Strikingly, I realized that when I read paperbacks I’m much more motivated to finish the books. Don’t ask me about ebooks—I’m hopeless: I would read up to 30% of them and then abandon most of them. It’s not all a waste, though, as I do learn a lot about writing even reading 30% of a book.
Watch more movies and TV series while dancing. The latter activity is something I take seriously 🙂 since I do need a lot of exercise in order to prevent lumbar hernia flareups.
Oh . . . here comes: lose (more) weight! Yes, I intend to lose weight by exercising more.
Make more salads. I’m recently on a quest for avocado salads as well, though I enjoy others too, like celery tuna apple salad with yogurt.
Lower my cholesterol and triglycerides further with the help of both nutrition and exercise. Here’s where I’ve been at in 2023 and 2024:
Plants and Herbal Teas that Lower High Cholesterol and Help Improve Liver Health
Book Review. Chef Alain Braux’s How to Lower Your Cholesterol with French Gourmet Food
Foods That May Lower Cholesterol. Some May Also Help with Fatty Liver
Pay Attention to What Your Mother Eats. It May Do You a Lot of Good
Write more tea quotes and create Zazzle products with them.
What are some of YOUR New Year’s Resolutions?
To a happier, healthier life,
🙂 Mira
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