New Year Resolutions

I'm the sort of person that thrives on making plans and lists. I make them every week, so, of course, I remain in fine fettle for New Year's Eve. On New Year's Eve, I make Five-Year Plans - that is, if I don't want to look too far down the road and make Ten-Year ones. And, unlike some people I know, I don't go off the deep end if the plans don't always fructify - the important thing, as some sage said, is to have a map and not worry about where you end up.

Here’s part of the latest list :

1. Well, first of all, I'm not going to turn into a new leaf, not a teeny Money Plant sized one and not a great big Elephant Ear sized one. I recently read a fascinating article on accepting oneself as one is and the effect hasn't worn off yet.

2. As with most original leaves, I do plan on EVOLVING though - a gentle, long process that will, hopefully, not have me fluttering off the branch until my ninety-ninth year.

3. In the meantime, to aid the evolving process, I'm going to experience the traveling life more. And that does not mean just riding from one end of the earth to the other by camel, elephant, yak, bullock-cart, bicycle, motorcycle, car, bus, train, plane, and ship, and doggedly dogging the footsteps of that writer who wrote the guide book. It does include missing connections, getting lost, and roping in the locals for assistance, but hopefully I won't overdo that one. I want to be the sort of traveler that sees an icicle and goes, "Oh, LOOK at THAT!" rather than the jaded, unimpressed one that yawns and says, "So WHAT? We have a larger one in our frig back home."

4. I will complete my novel. Not the one I'm reading, the one I'm writing, I mean. I've been writing it for a very long time now, and it's turning into the Never-Ending Story. The problem, someone told me, is that you're in love with your characters. Like, if I didn't love them enough, I would spend so much time with them?

5. I'm going to practice my French really seriously. It's high time I learned to say something more profound than, "Eh, Alor! Donne moi le bon-bon!"

6. I will be more patient. I'll count to twenty in French. If it doesn't calm me down, it'll atleast make me feel accomplished.

7. I will not lose my temper for trifles. I will save it for the really important occasions.

8. I will be nicer to my parents. They've been really nice to me all these years.

9. I will try to learn atleast one new thing everyday. The brain stays sharp, they say - I want to develop a cutting edge.

10. I will paint more and with GREATER verve - I shall not be overwhelmed by mine damn unprimed, unstretched canvases and mine damn expensive paints.

11. I will not try to sell my paintings - I want to house them in a great big hall and charge people to look at them.

12. I will draw with more imagination - if one can be inventively wicked, one should.

13. I will take more photographs.

14. I will not drown my sorrows overmuch in Coffee - Coffee is not good for me - and I like Tea better.

15. I also like vodka better and for that reason I shall not attempt to drown anything in that.

16. I will read more silly jokes/poems/stories and pass them on more often.

17. I will not join a Laughter Club - there are limits to being community minded.

18. I will not backbite - or frontbite, for that matter. I will not be catty and mean. Unless, of course, someone is absolutely deserving and I'm too terribly tempted.

19. I'm going to study Philosophy - it's important to be able to tell the difference between Schopenhauer and a Schnauzer.

20. I will set up a natural-looking waterfall by the goldfish pond.

21. I will look after my dogs better - basic training, you guys, be prepared!

22. I will learn to play the guitar properly - I'm done with strumming and pretending it's a chord.

23. I will watch more movies.

24. I will buy and read more books. I'm not much of a 'library' person, I have to own a book.

25. I will build a larger house to store them in.

26. I will read more poetry - but not the sort that compares life to a pot on the fire, getting burnt and hardened for more burning - yes, I actually read a Marathi poem that went like that and I thought, poor fellow, his New Year's Resolution should be getting off the fire.

27. I will listen to more Celtic music - I already listen to it day in and day out and then again at night and it is a sheer joy still.

28. I will sing more - it's great for the soul - my own, I mean.

29. I will rest more. I love sleeping and dreaming. Such technicolored adventures I have!

30. I will eat better.

31. I will learn new recipes.

32. I will keep in touch with old friends.

33. I won't hoard expensive soap, good clothes, stuff like that - you should only do that if you want to open a museum ten years from now.

34. I will be more disciplined in my work.

35. I will try to think less and feel more.

36. I will save more. I like having money in the bank.

37. I will not get frustrated if nothing works out, I will just make a longer list the next time.