My first waking sensation this morning was of pain and confusion. My first thought in this confusion was that the only way I could feel such pain was because something had sucked all the magic out of the universe. My first rational thought was “I am never drinking that much again”.
New Years resolution #1: I solemnly resolve not to spend any more nights wringing alcohol out of my system over a toilet.
Of course, I make these promises to myself every day I wake up hungover. Usually my only incentive to stick to it is the lingering headache and upset tummy, and my willpower falters once those pass. But because it’s the first decision I made in 2010, it ought to hold more weight, right?

Self-restraint will be key to realize resolution number one. Self-exploration is the aim of my other two personal decrees for 2010.

New Years resolution #2: Find my grace
Grace came from Latin’s gratia and gratus meaning pleasing will, good quality. From these roots we’ve got a whole family of graceful and grateful words, encompassing physical, spiritual, and emotional connotations. Physical grace generally eludes me, but in all the other senses of the word, I want to chase grace. I have been graced with incredible opportunities this year, and I want to show my gratitude for them by being graceful in my encounters. I want to say grace, giving thanks and sharing my gratefulness. By the time I leave Honduras, I had better be able to pronounce “gracias” as if I were a native Spanish speaker. I want to be gracious with what I have: my time, my energy, my mind, and my heart. Which leads me to number three:

New Year resolution #3: Make somebody’s day every day
It’s usually pretty easy for me to be happy, and it’s usually pretty natural for me to want to share that. The positive impact of my encounters will be stronger, though, if I consciously seek rich and sincere conversations and interactions. And if I consciously turn these energies towards myself when I need them. On the days when it’s not so easy for me, I give in easily to despair and am irresponsible in the ways I let it take me. So, perhaps with all the learned grace I’ll be acquiring this year, I must proactively find techniques to turn around my days.

This list is about personal evolution. About not being passive about my life, so that none of the awesome opportunities coming my way just “pass me by”. About doing what I need to do and what is asked of me mindfully and efficiently. So that when something beautiful floats by me, I can fully appreciate its grace. Like this morning when I was driving home and something in my line of sight threw a little rainbow through my windshield. I was delightedly surprised to drive on and see a lone bubble hovering over the road. There was nobody around to have created it! As I drove past and it drifted on, I had to concede that, despite my nausea, there is still magic in the world.