Another busy week without a lot of time to write, but I've been thinking about New Year's Resolutions recently.
I set a few back in January, and after Thanksgiving I sat down to review progress. As I did, I laughed to myself. Of the four I set, I literally didn't accomplish any of them.
Resolutions are weird, because I think it's important to set them. That process: reviewing your life, deciding where you'd like to be, and aiming toward that goal, seems really useful. That alone leaves me feeling accomplished. But actually reaching the finish line feels less important. When I look back on 2022, it's been wonderful. So much of it brought me joy and happiness. Emilie and I moved in together, I spent time working from skyscrapers in New York City, I competed again in Jiu-Jitsu, and I left the country for the first time in several years. Each of these things felt special, and when I look back on the last twelve months, I'm struck by how good it all feels.
But, I didn't reach any of the goals I set for myself. Huh.
At our core, I think most people are mostly the same. We crave food and friends and closeness. That's the cake, and everything else is icing. When those basic needs are addressed, how much happier can you be?
I set a goal to train Jiu-Jitsu 200 times this year. Not only did I not achieve that, I stopped counting sessions a long time ago. It doesn't matter. I've trained fairly often and improved. That's enough.
As Thanksgiving leads to Hanukkah and Christmas, and December leads to 2023, I hope you continue to ride a wave of gratitude for the food and friends and closeness you've got in your life. At the end of the day, that's really all that matters. Everything else is icing.
Food and friends and closeness. It's so true!