Enamel sign from Best Made Co. //
Inspiration from Benjamin Franklin’s schedule
One of my favorite days to read the Internet is January 1st. The mornings are quiet, as many self-employed bloggers and freelance writers are nursing champagne headaches or soaking up the last days of holiday hiatus. Yet as the afternoon creeps in, Twitter slowly becomes abuzz with links to resolutions, challenges, life-betterments in one form or another. And I love it. There’s a lot of fluff, yes, and a lot of the usual suspects. But there’s also a lot of meaning. A lot of self-reflection. A lot of inspiration and excitement for the coming year.
There’s a link to Bob Dylan reciting the top ten most popular New Year’s Resolutions (I’ll bet you can guess them all). 12 TED talks that might inspire your own resolutions. Famous people’s resolutions. The anti-resolution. The manifesto (and how to write said manifesto). Project Life 365. The 100 Thing Challenge. And on and on and on.
In the past, I’ve always practiced a tradition on January 1st: the creation of two lists. One list contained goals for the year, much like every other resolution-maker-and-hopefully-keeper. The other? Non-goals. Quirks and habits in my daily life that I’ve grown accustomed to, that I’ve grown to love about myself. It’s a practice I highly recommend, but one I won’t be participating in this year.
Instead, I’m slowing down. I’m living in the moment. I’m letting my curiosity lead its course, whether I follow it down the path of an intriguing design concept, a leisurely walk or an impromptu dance party in the kitchen with my daughter.
The quote printed on the above sign was taken from Benjamin Franklin’s daily schedule. A tedious schedule, yes, but a schedule with purpose. A schedule bookended with two simple question:
What good shall I do this day? and What good have I done today?
I can’t wait to fill in the blanks. Happy 2013, us.
What a wonderful resolution to have. It’s something I’ve been thinking of, too.
I love these thoughtful questions. Framing each day with them seems like a wonderful way to live intentionally without being a slave to one’s to-do list. Wishing you a very happy new year!
Oh my god, Erin. I seriously was just thinking that my only new year’s resolution this year would be “Slow down.” Slow down and pay attention. Slow down and work smarter. Slow down and rest easy.
I am comforted and inspired by the fact that you are feeling so much of the same.
xoxo
Thank you so so much, everyone. :) Happy new year, guys!
Have a wonderfully splendid 2013, Erin. We all know you are just going to rock!
Erin, I love this so much! Thank you for sharing and HAPPY 2013 you! It’s going to be a stellar year, I know it!
I resolve to do the same! More slow-dancing in the kitchen with the hubs and kids around our knees. We’ll remember that more than anything. Thanks for the reminder! Be present. :)
I love to do that too! happy new year!
http://www.anmarkdesign.com/
This year I just wanna have fun!
Yes Erin, I am thinking I need another “dance party” in the kitchen with my daughters soon. We love to crank the tunes and act like we are rock stars…. yay!
Thank you! Inspiring post :)
Have a beautiful year!
Erin, this inspired me so much. I thought about it every day over the holidays and am consciously embracing my natural curiosity with my son, blogging, and my personal life. It feels so dang good and I feel so much more like myself. Thank you for this. It’s brave to know when to say yes and when to say no.
I wrote a little about it today, after thinking about it for quite awhile. http://originalarchiving.co/original-archiving/2013/1/8/natural-curiosity
I do a little bit of good every day, because every day I don’t listen to Justin Bieber.
@Mike – HA!