10 days of January

On the 9th day of the afternoon of January 2024, I wondered why did I not make any resolutions this year. Because over the past many years of my adult life, I have gone from making detailed schedules to jotting down high level ideas, with a hope that this year would be the year of change. 

While each year is a whole new year and the change is persistent, the only difference is whether you are floating through the tides of time, or taking the front seat and steering through the course of the seasons. So then again I pondered and asked myself, why did I not write any down this time? Because I definitely did think about them and a few ideas did cross my mind.

I suppose it was because I was somewhat scared to put anything down to writing, fearing the failure to meet any of them. Like every other year, I would be forgetting all about them within the first few weeks into the new year only to remember them back in mid December starting the whole process all over again.

These past 9 days, nothing new has happened either. I have continued to procrastinate, gotten anxious post procrastinating, only to procrastinate even more. And then between all this anxiousness tidied up my home beautifully, made some meal plans, chatted with friends and family and recollected the memories of the holiday season. I guess its the corporate worker in me telling me to commit less and deliver more. Which in-turn would save me from the guilt of not being on schedule and in the end still allow me to get done more than I usually do.

While I sipped some green tea amidst all the writing, I naturally started thinking about the next day ahead..
I decided I would pick my clothes for the morning and put an alarm so that I can be on time for the office cab. And I would deal with some gritty pile-up tasks in the evening followed by some late night reading. So while I didn't know what the 10th day of January entailed, I knew I would at least start it right.

Thus instead of resolutions on what I will achieve this year, I have decided to pick my mantras, my guiding principles that would be my companions while I make everyday decisions. 

1) Choose your battles.
Some things are not worth fighting for. However much of time, effort and honesty you put into it, you would not be able to reap commensurate rewards. You can't win over everyone and not everything is fair. So choose your battles right. 

2) Adapt to changes.
As Krishna says, do your duty without thinking about the results. When put in a difficult situation, work on how you can change it. Calculate and make the best of every situation.

3) Don't be afraid to make your own decisions.
Thinking about change can be difficult, getting it done can be easier.

4) Make the most of the time in between.
This one comes from my mom. While she presses on not doing everything perfectly, in order to get more things done. The one thing that stuck to me the most is to make the most of those 15-20 mins between something. To sneak in deciding your dinner just before going to the gym. Because sometimes getting started is the most difficult. 

5) Keep the curiosity alive.
Keep reading and feed your curiosity of the big wide world. Learn something new.



Iced coffee with sweet condensed milk,
XOXO
T





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