Re: post

A New Year often brings a new outlook, and personally, the new year
really doesn't start until the first Monday of January. Maybe it is
the IT in me (our Fridays don't end until 07:59:59 on Monday morning).

So what is important to me in 2009?

- No Expectations -
For too long have I been focused on the "what ifs" and future plans. I
end up missing life as it goes by every day. I philosophy of no
expectations focuses on appreciating moments as they occur and
clearing my overly analytic mind. When he says, "I think I kind of dig
you," "I'll take you up there sometime so you can see it," or uses
"we" in a sentence I don't plan to dwell on what he really meant by
it. All that matters is the moment. Am I having a good time, do things
feel sincere, am I happy - comfortable, and most importantly - am I
being myself? It applies at work too. It's just easier to relate
examples to personal relationships.

Stepping out of my head will not only let me enjoy little things more,
but it will also hopefully free me to focus on the topics and issues
that are more tied to further honing and strengthening my core
philosophy and definition of self.

- Personal Relationships -
I've been in North Carolina for nearly 8 months right now and have met
tons of people, but developed few real friendships and relationships.
I simply have lots of acquaintances. What I have learned, and honestly
been quite surprised by, is that the people that I would have expected
to enjoy the most (on the surface) are often the sort of people I
really find to be fake and have little in common with. Individuals
that I am at first leery of, or feel as would have little to offer me,
are turning out to be the ones that are the most "real" and
interesting.

This ties into holding true to one's self. If I have fun in a smoky
honky tonk one night and wine bar the next, does that make me a
contradiction? If I enjoy going to the symphony, wearing clothes from
banana republic, and have an IT career does that make me too good to
eat at Hooters? The thing is that it doesn't really matter. It's about
doing whatever and having fun doing it. Not pretending to be something
you are not. I struggle with the perceptions people in my past life
have about who I am today, what we should all be, and what's proper.
And when it comes down to it - I really ought not care what anyone
really thinks (unless they happen to be someone that adds value to my
life knows me well enough to render and appropriate opinion).

- Self Betterment -
Like many others, I want to lose a few pounds - be more healthy, etc.
I started prior to the new year so really its just about continuing to
do better and make smart choices. The gym part is coming pretty easy.
Eating healthy? Not so much. Lately I have been getting corrupted by
people (but I haven't fought back very much), so self control - here I
come.

- Above All, Have Fun -
All of it really comes down to this. Have a good time and enjoy life.
Last year I lost the first person that was really close to me. Life is
too short. Value time with those you care about and value time with
yourself. Value who you are. And smile.