Friday Find: Joy In Just One New Year's Resolution?

This year I'm going to make just one New Year's resolution. I don't think making a laundry list of everything you want to change and feeling overwhelmed really gets you anywhere – besides, so many of things I am trying to work on (writing, de-cluttering, post-injury exercise, becoming a morning person) I'm already attempting (some more successfully than others) on a daily basis.

I'm not the only one thinking in this direction. I've read a certain number of blog posts recently about having a one-word theme for resolutions, most recently Gretchen Rubin's (of The Happiness Project) article in the Huffington Post on choosing a theme for 2011.

Also, it got me thinking... could a New Year's resolution be something more fun? It doesn't have to be about trying to be more perfect and eliminating what we perceive as our shortcomings. I'm starting to think more along the lines of mapping out something I'd really like to do, that I'd regret not enjoying during my lifetime. Perhaps New Year's resolutions can be more about joy and less about drudgery.

So what's my one New Year's resolution? Music.

I've written before a little about how music has fallen by the wayside a bit for me over the years. Although I generally know what's going on in the pop world, at least, sometimes I feel like my music collection is a frozen relic from my college years (which actually is no longer very recent). Much of my life is word-based. From writing for both work and fun, to watching movies, plays and TV programs, I am incredibly verbally focused, and I think I need a break from that.

I enjoy music. And listening to music uses a different side of the brain. Language uses the left side of our brain while music and art are centered in our right. Which means that while listening to music, the overactive reasoning side of my brain can have a little rest. Which is good for everyone around me too.

It's a good time for me to get back into knowing what's going on in music – we need to decide on all the music elements of the wedding over the next few months, from the ceremony to the DJ's play list. And one of these days, I'm going to get back to playing the piano. Although maybe that's reserved for next year's resolution.

Happy New Year!

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