resolution #6: slow down and relax

channeling my inner leo
i’ve made this resolution a million times before. call me optimistic — but i believe that 2011 might be my year for finally putting thoughts into action:

quote & manifesto on my wall
i feel like so much of what makes life enjoyable vs. not is encompassed within this one aspect of how we choose to live: the pace.

as leo babauta points out in one of my very favorite zen habits posts (how not to hurry):

“Is a book better if you speed read it, or if you take your time and get lost in it?

Is a song better if you skim through it, or if you take the time to really listen?

Is food better if you cram it down your throat, or if you savor every bite and really appreciate the flavor?

Is your work better if you’re trying to do 10 things at once, or if you really pour yourself into one important task?

Is your time spent with a friend or loved one better if you have a rushed meeting interrupted by your emails and text messages, or if you can relax and really focus on the person?

Life as a whole is better if you go slowly, and take the time to savor it, appreciate every moment. That’s the simplest reason to slow down.”

we rush around so that we can do more things, have more things, be first in line — only to find out that there are no medals given out for breaking the tape in life.

and so my final resolution for 2011 is to be aware of the pace at which i am living life, and make a conscious effort to slow down.

i am struggling a bit with making this goal as concrete as some of the others, but i’ll try! let’s see . . .

measurable ➜ during times and activities where i tend to rush (examples: making dinner; driving to work; cleaning up; end-of-day tasks at work), i would like to stop, breathe, and make a conscious effort to slow down in what i’m doing. i would also like to make a point of having some unscheduled down time every week.

inspirational ➜ i know from experience that i am happier and life is more enjoyable when i do this! furthermore, when i don’t rush, i produce better quality work, and . . . i am nicer, too.

concrete ➜ i will write about my progress with this goal at least weekly, and i will schedule weekly down-time into my planner, as ridiculous as that may sound.

realistic ➜ i am not aiming for some sort of perfect buddha state; my goal is just that i make an effort at described above. the focus is on the process, not the end result! (because that’s what matters anyway, right?)

obtainable ➜ i don’t think this will be the case, but if i find that life is just too crammed to allow for this resolution to work, i will change/reduce my commitments to make this goal attainable.

here goes nothing!

recap of all 6 resolutions for the new year tomorrow!

best of 2010
i already did a highlights post, but thought it would also be fun to mention some other favorites of 2010.

music
favorite 5 albums of the year . . .

✰ vampire weekend, “contra”
✰ broken bells, “broken bells”

✰ best coast, “crazy for you”

✰ beach house, “teen dream”

✰ arcade fire, “the suburbs”
movies
(note: some of these are 2008 or 2009 releases, but i watched them all in ’10!)

✰ moon

✰ crazy heart

✰ revolutionary road

✰ avatar

✰ precious

✰ true grit
books
✰ the namesake, jhumpa lahiri

✰ the happiness project, gretchen rubin

✰ dance, dance, dance, haruki murakami

✰ in defense of food, michael pollan

✰ 168 hours: you have more time than you think, laura vanderkam (i both hated and loved this book – but it definitely made me think!)

what were your media favorites of the year?

plans for today
a low-key mix of apartment therapy catchup (including closet weed-out), relaxation, and celebration (at home!).

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12.30.10

workout: i hit the gym and ran my allotted 3 miles @ 9:13/mi pace, and followed up with some weights:
– 2 x 12 pushups
– 2 x 12 squats (10 lb weights each hand)
– 2 x 10 seated rows (50 lbs)
– 2 x 12 double lunges (10 lb weights each)
– 2 x 12 lat pull-downs (55 lbs)
– 2 x 12 plank –> tucks on ball

cozy favorite: i am never disappointed when we go to panzanella — i love the restaurant’s warm and inviting vibe as well as the menu filled with fresh and seasonal comfort food with a bit of an italian edge.

josh is so intent on the menu that he didn’t even notice my stealth photography . . .

doesn’t it just look comfortable in there?
after enjoying plenty of olive oil & balsamic dipped bread, we split a california salad with caesar dressing (josh’s choice). i loved the creamy goat cheese!

i had really wanted pizza, and this “3 fall green” pie did not disappoint! loaded with spinach, kale, chard as well as both goat cheese and mozzarella, i managed to eat my way through half this pie:

josh chose the gnocchi with butternut squash, truffle oil, and parmesan. you can tell when he REALLY likes an entrée by the fork blur (ie, he wouldn’t stop eating long enough for a still photo!)

yum. well, we certainly ate well this year. i can only hope for equal deliciousness in 2011 . . .