Happy New Year Travelers! I am happy to be back after my December hiatus, where I spent most of the time eating, sleeping, visiting friends and family, eating, sleeping and thinking about where I want MyUntraveledPath to take me...
1. Stop procrastinating (Posting a resolution blog on January 8...this one will need improvement.)
2. Get crackin' on my book (Something tells me one needs more than a chapter and a dedication page. Success of this one will be directly correlated to Resolution #1)
3. Take a Trapeze Class - the obvious "letting go of the past, taking a leap on the future" metaphor aside...it's going to be really, really cool. (Thank you Dan for sponsoring!)
4. Complete a series of bikram yoga classes - I have a voucher for 10 classes on the lower east side gathering dust on my messenger center. All I need now is a yoga mat, a bottle of water and a hard kick in the butt. I would also like to note that I have never taken a Yoga class in my life, and I might be in a little over my head. (Think little league pitcher being brought in as a starter for the Twins..yea something like that. )
5. Run a marathon, half-marathon ... 5k. This one will be challenging as I haven't exercised since 2008 unless you count briskly walking to the subway and chasing off-duty taxis or ice cream trucks (both may have happened.) I did run, stop, walk...run down to Astoria Park and back yesterday (it was 65 degrees on January 7...I had to take advantage, plus it might be a sign the end of the world is coming, so I wanted to enjoy the last few hours outside.)
6. Follow the 2012 presidential election, research the issues and stay up to date on the candidates view points to make the most informed decision possible. Vow not to be one of those Americans who goes to the polls on election day and votes eenie meenie miney mo with their eyes closed. I can happily admit, to date, I have watched 5 minutes of CSPAN and the intro to the New Hampshire debates was riveting until ice cream and new suggestions on Netflix pulled me away. I'm gonna have to work on this one as well.
7. Take a self-defense class - this is an important one for any female, but is definitely needed for anyone living in New York City, men included. Yes, men included. I once went on a date in Union Square and we were approached by Captain James Hook himself. He just wanted money/Peter Pan and wasn't threatening, though the hook was good intimidation should we have hesitated, but it would have been nice to know my date could have defended us should he become aggressive instead of fleeing like Smee...
8. Volunteer regularly and other gestures of philanthropy - Towards the end of 2011, I began volunteering at the St. Francis Soup Kitchen on 18th and 5th. The experience has been one of the most rewarding things I've done in a long time and will continue to do so this year. I'm also reading "Start Something That Matters" by TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie. Hmmm...maybe there is more to MyUntraveledPath that I have yet to discover...
9. Visit the Chelsea Pier Batting Cages and other sporty things - Hit a few balls while singing "Put Me In Coach" by John Foggerty and quoting When Harry Met Sally
10. Write a new blog post weekly (I'm shooting for one, hoping for two...betting on bi-monthly...cough cough, again, reference #1)
11. See a rooftop movie, take a salsa class, take a beginner spanish class, photograph a sunset, sky dive?, keep a plant and or goldfish alive for one year, participate in a flash mob, create a Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor, read my writing at an open mic night, see a stand up comedy act/leave a stand up comedy act....and the list goes on.
12. (or the "in conclusion resolution") - Discover as many off the beaten path, interesting things to do in New York City as I can, while hopefully inspiring others to break away from their daily routine, try something new and find an unbeaten path to explore in their own town and write me about it! (Big, huge, neon sign with the words hint, hint right here.)
While heading to East Grand Forks, Minnesota for the holidays, I perused the midwest merchandise at an Alexandria gas station (I'll wait for you East Coast folk to check the map...just know it's somewhere in the middle). The "boutique" station sold everything from sweatshirts that read "Old Guys Rule" and small ceramic black bears with honey pots on their head to a stand filled with humorous plaques. Most of them read "Gone fishing, be back never" or "A glass of wine a day keeps me normal"but the one that stood out the most went something like this:
I took the road less traveled and I have no idea where I am.
That pretty much sums up this post... I can't wait to discover what path 2012 will take me down and to share all the mishaps along the way with you. Here's to a great year travelers!
Cheers,
Kerry
