I’m trying a different type of resolution this year: a different resolution each month. And I’m starting with a doozy for January. No TV or computer at home. (I’m tossing this post together quickly before work, and I brought my laptop to my desk to lock away for a month.)
On New Year’s Eve I ran a 5K with a friend whose 2012 resolution was to run a mile a day (minimum) for a year. The race was her grande finale. As we sat at tables shivering while eating our finisher’s pasta, she pulled out her phone to make a Facebook post celebrating her 366-day streak. She said, “You’ll ‘like’ this, right?” I told her I wanted to, but I couldn’t. I’d be going straight from the race to a NYE party and by the time I got home it would be January. Instead she commented on her post, “Alissa officially ‘likes’ this but cannot say so because she’s sworn off the internet.”
Yesterday I got home from a showing of Les Miserables with friends and took a nap. When I woke up, I stood in the hallway wondering what to do. I couldn’t look up trivia on the film on IMDb. I couldn’t watch Netflix. I couldn’t talk with friends on Facebook. I couldn’t calculate my per-mile time from the 5K. I couldn’t check the news to see what the weather would be like tomorrow, so I just had to guess “cold” since it’s January. So cold that I kicked myself for picking this challenge in January instead of June, when at least I could go outside to entertain myself with strolls or hikes or bike rides.
I washed dishes in silence, then cooked dinner while listening to NPR. Settled down with a library book I had heard was good, but was still rather dull in its first quarter. Took a hot bath (it’s really cold).
One day into my challenge and I’m already annoyed by it.
But that’s the point. I wanted to fast from my constant need to be entertained. I need to learn to be bored, and see what I can do with that boredom. And how much I can accomplish now that I “have time”. I always “had time”, but I was wasting so much of it sitting in front of a screen.
Besides cleaning, I have an idea for a January project: a cardboard mosaic. I haven’t taken my recycling out in months because I’ve had the nagging feeling I can do something artsy with it. I plan to cut up all the paperboard boxes by color and create a mosaic. I don’t know what the picture will be; I need to see what colors I have to work with thanks to cereal, pasta, and twinkle lights.
What a great idea! I laughed at the things you use the Internet for because I do the exact same. And this really made me laugh: “I couldn’t check the news to see what the weather would be like tomorrow, so I just had to guess “cold” since it’s January.”
I want to see pictures of this mosaic when you finish it! Also, if you need a book recommendation, I LOVED “Wonder.” It’s a young adult book, but hey, we’re young adults, yeah? Now I’m reading “MWF seeks BFF.” It’s a total girl book but it’s hilarious and doesn’t have the weird sex parts other girl books have.
I think the mosaic will be a hope-it’s-done-by-summer project. Taking so much longer than I expected!
Thirty-one is TOTALLY still young adult. I’ll add “Wonder” to my book list. I actually wrote down all the books you posted on your blog for your summer reading post for my book list. True story. Though I’ve only read about a half dozen of them. Just finished “Gone Girl” and would highly recommend. Disturbing, but I can’t remember the last time I was so engrossed in a book.