resolution countdown: #10, all in my head

mindfulness strikes again
one of my resolutions for 2009 was:

continue working on mindfulness. and by this, i mean focusing on each moment, slowing down to enjoy life, and recognizing/acknowledging unhelpful thought processes as they arise. it's an ongoing battle, but i will keep up the good fight.

i had similar resolutions for 2006, 2007, and 2008, although there are certainly variations. i wouldn't be surprised if i were still working on gaining perspective and becoming more mindful in 2050!

and i'm okay with that. because i think that learning to live in the moment is one of the keys to enjoying a meaningful life. i find that i am happier AND somehow accomplish more when i let go of life's little annoyances and just focus on what i am doing and who i am with RIGHT THEN.

a very small-scale example
remember this?


vomitrocious, right?

i blamed this minor baking disaster on wet filling and difficulty with scaling down the recipe. but then i sort of mulled it over and realized that the real problem was that i had gotten stressed out about how long things were taking, and was rushing to finish the project. in rushing,

◆ i was doing a haphazard job
◆ i was no longer enjoying myself
◆ i ended up with a product that i was not happy with

and WHAT WAS THE RUSH!?!? i mean, hello! i'm on staycation and have all the time in the world. if i can't relax and just enjoy life now, how are things going to work when there are superimposed deadlines?

so yesterday, i decided to try again. i cranked some tunes ("fireflies" on repeat? why not?) and sat down and decided to take my time and enjoy the baking process -- since it really is something i like to do.

i carefully made 6 dough balls
and worked calmly, instead of rushing to be done
my reward
okay, so they're not 100% perfect -- a little cheese might have leaked out. but i was so much happier with this batch, and had such a good time in the process just doing my thing the best that i could. baking is NOT a race to the finish line, and neither is life.

calzones: a metaphor for life? maybe so, at least for me. i will try to keep this lesson in mind as i embark on the adventures of 2010!

zen habits
zen habits is a blog about mindfulness and simple productivity, and it is one of my favorites. writer leo babauta manages to convey lessons about these things far more cleanly and eloquently than i can (ie, he doesn't need to resort to pictures of calzones).

today, he posted a year-end summary, including the 30 best posts of 2009. on this list, he includes three of my favorites:

◆ the mindfulness guide for the super busy: how to live life to the fullest

◆ 10 essential rules for slowing down and enjoying life more

◆ do interesting things

and speaking of interesting things, it's time to start the last day of the year. i plan on savoring every minute of it.

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12.30.09

workout: 50 minutes elliptical + weights
- 2 x 11 pushups
- 2 x 12 deep plie squat to tricep press, 12 lb weight
- 2 x 12 walking double lunges, 8 lb weights
- 2 x 12 bicep curls, 10-12 lb weights
- 2 x 10 lateral/forward raises with lunge
- 2 x 15 ball plank-to-tucks (my abs are sore today!)

culinary corner: in trying to decide where to go for dinner, josh randomly came up with korean. brilliant! we headed to chosun ok, a small restaurant located in a durham strip mall. the atmosphere wasn't elegant, but the food was delicious (and the company was top-notch :) ). we had fun discussing up in the air (which we both REALLY liked) and josh entertained me with stories from his work in china (~10 years ago, back in his computer science days).

i felt a little self-conscious snapping photos in the brightly lit restaurant but then decided that i didn't care. the food was too interesting not to capture + share!

steamed beef and pork-filled dumplings. the shape reminded me of the calzones!
josh wanted to venture into new drinking territory, so we got a bottle of ginseng-infused rice wine.
cute and tiny glasses made it extra fun to drink!
josh is prepared to dive in. the little bowls contain his side dishes, including kim chee, pickled seaweed, daikon radish, fish cake, and fresh-tasting green onion
i got bibim bap, in a SUPER hot stone pot
closeup! lots of fresh vegetables, with meat and rice layers beneath. i killed it!
josh and his beef bulgogi. i have to stop cutting off the top of his head in pictures!
final note to all: wishing you a fabulous NYE and an even better 2010. HAPPY NEW YEAR!