Date Machine: My new years RESOLUTIONS...

 I've never been a big fan of the whole 'new years' tabula rasa gestalt. Personally, I like to make my resolutions during the summer when it is warmer. Still, here it is  - New Years Day, and I'm in need of a subject for today's posting, so I'll go with it.

Resolution #1 - I will make more of an effort to relate to other people.

Sometimes - ok often - people don't understand my personality. Even here on this blog, many people have taken offense to what I thought was humorous and tongue in cheek. Perhaps the onus here is on me. Maybe I should take other people's world views more into account before I spew off. I should relate to their feelings, and develop a deeper sense of empathy. 

Resolution #2 - I will not take the people in my life whom I love for granted.

This is something I try not to do, but I must say sometimes I fail particularly with the girlfriend. I tend to joke around a lot, and come off as if I don't take anything too seriously. I'm sure it's a personality trait that has not served me in good staid as far as my relationships have been concerned. Sometimes in life you've got to quit the joking around and give the people you love the emotional comfort they seek. This is particularly hard for me as I was brought up in a household which belittled such expressions of emotion, but I will do my best.

Resolution #3 - I will try not to write callously about those that are and have been part of my life

After reading the back and forth exchanges going on with Amboabe's post on his coffee date, I must say although I personally did not find fault with what he wrote, I CAN see the other side. Personally, I've tried to not go into specifics about people I've known when writing here, but every once in a while I do - mostly concerning my girlfriend - and perhaps it's something I should rethink. Perhaps at the very least, I should make sure I don't write about these experiences in a flippant way.

Resolution #4 - Learn to live in the moment.

My problem is I experience most everything 'second hand'. What I mean is, I can never fully feel things as they are happening, only once they've been experienced and developed into a memory can I re-live the experience 2nd hand. I'm tired of living my entire life as if I'm going through a bunch of old photographs.

Resolution #5 - Stop watching so much TV...

I've definitely got to make more of an effort to read, leave the house, write, draw, whatever.. anything else besides vegetating in front of the television. It's pathetic to think about the hours I've devoted to it. Probably 1/4 of my entire life... The thing is, it's all for naught. It's not like it enriches me in anyway. In fact, I'll probably get cancer from it. 

So there are my resolutions. Hopefully I can follow through, but it's like anything else - a process. I hate the process, I'm more of a product man myself. I wishi I could just wake up tomorrow a changed person. 

hmmm... Wonder what's on the tube tonite.