Danearys 9 to 5

Happy New Year everyone!
I hope that everyone had a wonderful time last night and that whatever they did, they did so with as much inner strength as they could muster. It's the beginning of a new year for everyone and it's time to make the best of it. I have several personal traditions for New Years and New Year's Eve. I'll make a confession....I have spent every single New Year's Eve with my family. This is not because I don't like going out (quite the contrary) but...because I don't get to see them very often...and it just so happens that are almost always in town during the holidays. This however does not prevent me from celebrating with my friends! I may spend the traditional view of New Year's with family, but I have a tendency to view every day as a New Year if you will.
But I digress; traditions. One, I carry with me always some small rocks that I collected back as a little girl. They each have interesting patterns, and I picked them back when I was first learning about the earth. I remember thinking that these rocks have been here for longer than I have, and will continue to be here long after I am dead. These rocks...for some odd reason, just make me feel optimistic about the future. Luckily they are pretty small, so I can carry them in whatever purse I carry. The second tradition is grapes. My mother showed me this one. At 12 make sure you have 12 grapes. When the clock strikes 12, you eat all the grapes that you can in the first minute. Now there is some contention in the family about the matter of time. Some say that you should eat all the grapes in the first 12 seconds, others the first minute. Either way, if you get the kind of grapes that are big and juicy, you have a ton of fun watching everyone (and yourself) trying to gobble away at the grapes. After the grapes and rocks, I dance at least ONE song....and kiss someone. The kiss doesn't have to be on the lips, and it doesn't have to be someone that you're attracted to necessarily...just a kiss to ring in the new year and bring in some luck!
My final tradition is watching the sunrise. By this time I am generally exhausted from dancing, drinking and warding off the usual questions from my family. But I try to make an effort to do this every time. Watching the sunrise has always made me think that anything is possible. Plus I love how no one else is around, and how the world changes in vibrant hues...each one different and unique, yet still remaining the same in it's constant cycle.
And this year's resolutions: Every year, I make a list of things that I want to do or accomplish in the year. I make a point of saying that resolutions are not absolute. In my opinion absolute resolutions are better off stated as goals. Here you have a time scheduled to complete those goals. For example...a goal of mine is to go to the doctor's for my (overdue) annual check up by February. A resolution on the other hand is something that you wish to accomplish and are...resolute about it ;)
1. Learn to love my workout: I work out, but I find that sometimes I don't do it because I want to. Rather I do it because I'm told it's good for me and I know I should. So...this year, I will try to truly love it. I mean, it keeps me in shape, will ensure that I live to see future generations react to mine, makes me feel good, and allows me to force a release of feelings that I can't really release in real life. I plan to do this by jotting down a few notes after every workout, reminding myself how I feel (which is generally exhausted...but somewhat elated as well). I will not force myself to go to the gym when my body is screaming for me not to. I will take a break instead, and go when I feel I want to.
2. Work hard at work, play hard at play:Work, as much as I dislike it, is important. It pays the bills, and allows me to have fun money. Plus, it's not really all that bad. No one is forcing me to stay there and if I didn't find at least something that I liked about it, I wouldn't be there. So I must find what keeps me there, and work at that. But I don't intend to run in a Rat-race. I understand that a job is important, but so are all the other factors of your life. This year I will learn to make the two of them work. Work hard, play hard!
3. sunscreen and care: My body has so far been so good to me. I put it through so much, and it still continues on. The wonderful machine that it is. I plan to take better care of it, and return the favour.
4. Memory games: I was sitting down reading one of my favourite books the other day, and I could not remember the definition of the word that I was reading. I knew the word, I had used...but at that moment my mind drew a blank. Suddenly I became paranoid that I was loosing my memory and not exercising it enough. So this year, it's time to work on a few mind games.
5. Study for the future:Since I still have no idea what I want to do with my life, professionally speaking, I'm going to start looking into all the fields that I have an interest in and see if I find a sudden spark. This however, will also include studying for odious future tests (as I call them), like the GRE or the LSAT.
6. Paint and create more: I love painting and creating things. This year, I want to have several projects...and actually complete them.
7. Inner peace: I grew up in a very catholic family. But I don't necessarily call myself a catholic. I honestly have no idea what I would call myself. So this year I plan to find out, and find...a faith...in something at least; which doesn't have to be religion.
8. Dance more: I love to dance, and I want to learn more.
9. save money: I am not very good at this. I tend to be an impulse buyer, and this is not good. I vow to start saving money...that way when I'm old and crazy I can at least bribe people to put up with me.
10. buy a new computer: Oh lord, of course I mention buying something JUST after I said that I needed to save money. But my poor old computer needs to be replaced. I have had it for a good 5 years and it has lasted me through so many trials. I just hope that it holds out for as long as I can save my money.

And now its your turn. Any traditions that you do on new years? how do you normally spend it? How did you spend it this year? And what are your resolutions?

once again
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wishing you all the best!