Explore.
People often talk about living life to the fullest. It’s one of those phrases thrown around casually and nonchalantly, a generic mantra to live by. I have lately been thinking about what it really means to have a life fully lived. Perhaps it’s the new year, or the alarming number of friends who have loved ones with newly discovered illnesses this month, or just a time of transition for me. Whatever it is, it’s been weighing on my mind.
I’ve just finished The Martian, by Andy Weir. I’ve started another book club. It’s an addiction. I love to read and to talk to my friends and so book clubs are really my jam. When work permits, of course. This new book club has only has two members so far – me and one of my smart, funny coworkers who loves the nerdy books that I do. We are being selective in our membership. One of the most important factors to consider when contemplating joining or forming a book club is the kinds of books the other members like to read. One ill-fated book club years ago with a friend (who shall not be named to protect her street cred) chose as the inaugural book Sweet Valley Confidential, which is a sequel ten years after the Sweet Valley High books ended. And that was the beginning and the very quick end of that book club. I’m looking for a little bit more substance, a little less silliness. So we decided to start with The Beak of the Finch and follow it with The Martian. I’m about halfway through the Beak. That’s a kinda dry, super factual, interesting but not page-turning book about Darwin and Natural Selection.
The Martian, by Andy Weir, however, I finished in a weekend. A friend let me borrow it and I devoured it page by page. It is a story of an astronaut stranded on Mars and his struggle to survive. I came THISCLOSE about 50 times to flipping to the back to find out what happens to him in the end.
APPROACH THE NEW YEAR WITH RESOLVE TO FIND THE OPPORTUNITIES HIDDEN IN EACH NEW DAY. – Michael Josephson
I love this quote. It embodies the fresh start that comes with each new year. Many people hate New Year’s resolutions, and the typical half-hearted resolutions probably are something to loathe. But with the start of the new year comes the opportunity to reassess. To stop and think about the past year, the lessons learned, opportunities taken, opportunities missed, happiness, successes, regrets. And to evaluate how we’ll take these into the new year. Rather than making resolutions, I like to take some time to simply be more mindful. Think about the person that I want to be, where I am currently, and what I can do to continue to grow, learn and thrive. It’s a good practice to periodically take the time to reevaluate our trajectory, and why not start with the beginning of the year?
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