To me, it’s really so simple, that life should be lived on the edge. You have to exercise rebellion. To refuse to tape yourself to the rules, to refuse your own success, to refuse to repeat yourself, to see every day, every year, every idea as a true challenge. Then you will live your life on the tightrope.

Watch it and you will want to really live. Any and everything that you dare thought was impossible gets slammed up against the wall by this film, which yells “Watch me!”

                        

The plan is pretty simple. Find one habit that you want to form, something that you think will have a significant impact on your life. Set a manageable goal of doing that habit every single day for thirty days straight. Make it public, write about it and do it every day. That’s really it.

There is a little more on his site and the creator of the program’s blog, Leo Labauta Zen Habits, but really this is what you do.

I have decided to take this challenge and started yesterday with the first month. My goal: run 10 minutes each day. You might think “10 minutes is ridiculously woosy, why not 5 miles?” and you would miss the point. The idea is to really concentrate on the task and make it something that you can actually do so that once you hit that 30th day it is something innate in your daily routine. Yes, doing a 10 minute run should be a joke most days and I will probably run closer to 20-30 minutes, but think of those 4 degree days where that 10 minutes is going to be beat. Getting through 10 minutes will be harder than running a half marathon.
The other merit to this is that instead of setting a lofty goal of running a marathon by the end of the year (which I did, stupidly) this is a daily goal that if one day is missed, you can jump right back on. So many times with resolutions or goals if a few days or a week is missed the goal is shot. With this, it can be a manageable habit.

I am going to go for all 12 months, with a new habit forming activity for each and will use this site to provide feedback on how I am doing. To read more about the philosophy, check out Tim Ferriss’ post:

The Power of Less: Changing Behavior with Leo Babauta

And please do check out Leo’s website, a great resource for simplifying your life: Zen Habits

                        

So here I go self realizing. I tried to give each resolution a tangible goal, something that is direct and quantifiable rather than an abstract thought. Sometimes, however, abstract thoughts are necessary, so they slipped in. Also, most goals are weekly or monthly goals, so if I fall off once in awhile I dont have to shit can that goal, just have to start it back up the next week.

Writing them here will hopefully keep me on my toes since it is written and for all (read: no one reads this site) to see.

2009 Resolutions:

Creative:
Read 1 book a week- fiction or non-fiction
Write 5 posts on this website a week.
Write fiction for 30 minutes a day.
Take 30 minutes to brainstorm each day. Anything. Anything at all.
Bring Camera out w/ me and take more pictures – once a week.

Health:
Run 3 times a week.
Run a half marathon by April.
Run a marathon by October.
Go to the gym 3 times a week.
Eat more for breakfast and less for dinner.
Eat fruits and vegetables. Limit snacks.
Lose 3 pounds a month for 6 months. Lose 1 pound a month for 6 after.
Do 50 push-ups a day and 7-minute abs(what about 6 minute?) every day
Get outside more. One weekend day every two weeks explore NYC with long walks.
Hike whenever i have the chance.
Try Yoga seriously.

Work/Money/Finances:
Diversify my income- 2nd job? Freelancing? Dancing in the street?
Save $400 a month. Total = $4800 for the year.
Promotion: Account Manager by the end of the fiscal (July ‘09).
Get to work earlier (9am?)
Dress more professionally
Engage in more conversations with upper management.
Share visions.

Social:
Take Abbie to a new restaurant twice a month.
Long vacations every 4 months. At least one week each time.
Say yes to invitations of any sort. Just say yes.
Make lunch plans at least once a week.

Random:
Learn HTML
Be able to cook one great dish. Cook for friends.
Master one song on guitar.
Take dance lessons.
Speak Spanish fluently.
Be open to experience new activities.
Re-localize: buy fruit/vegetables from Farmer’s Market and leave processed foods alone.

I am sure I will add to this. These are the things I thought of this morning. My main goal is to be one with now and truly appreciate each second of every day to the fullest. We are here only a short time, so it is our gift to use that time to the best of its ability and the only way to to that is appreciate every moment for what it is.