In lieu of formal resolutions, this is my short list of things I will and won’t do, moving forward in 2010. They’re really just extensions of what I’ve already been striving for, with fresh approaches and new commitments. Happy New Year, Y’all!
- I will not have any weight loss goals this year. Instead, I will continue living a healthier lifestyle. The first implementation of this will be: Starting Monday, January 11, I’m skipping pasta for 30 days. This isn’t simply because I’m a noodle-holic, but because I want to challenge myself to learn to cook more pescatarian meals that don’t rely on pasta. More grains, more legumes, more… anything but pasta. I’d like to re-introduce pasta into my diet on February 12 as a side dish, not a main course. Keeping me accountable will be The Boyfriend, who’ll be giving up one of his own vices at the same time. Accountability, FTW! What’s your “healthy” resolution?
- I will not vow to spend less (I mean, I kind of have to), but instead I will require and acquire less. I have been inspired all over the place to seek a more minimalist lifestyle. Fewer trinkets, less clutter. Learning to use and utilize what I do have, rather than create needs and space for things I don’t have and don’t need. What are you letting go of?
- I will see more movies. It’s been brought to my attention by many, many folks that while there’s something to be said for loving books and being active instead, I need to expand my cinematic horizons and at least start striving to see every picture that’s won an Academy Award. Leave your favorite movie in the comments, and since chances are I haven’t seen it, I’ll add it to my to-see list!
- I will not let things I don’t know hinder me. Instead, I will make the time to learn more. Top on my list: Photoshop, Spanish, and how to use a sewing machine. For example, Chris and I had a conversation on the way to the airport this morning that inspired me to look up the etymology of the words renaissance* and reconnaissance**. And yes, I took the time to look them up.
- I will not spend money on a GPS for when I land in a new city, but will instead learn to live without a car at all. It’s an item on my Life List to do without owning a car for a year. The fact that mine just died (Rest in Pieces, Pam) and I’m not exactly rolling in the dough right now was just the jumpstart I needed (ick. no pun intended, clearly) to get on that one. I’ll move to Boulder in a rented U-Haul, and will be figuring out the buses and bike lanes when I get there.
Those are my Top 5. I will continue improving my pescatarian, yogic, active lifestyle. I will live more simply. I will see more films. I will forever be a student of the world. And I will learn to love public transportation and bike lanes.
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Coming soon: I spent the week surrounding New Year’s in Huntsville, Alabama (via Nashville, TN) with my family. You bet you’ll be hearing about that.
A GIANT Thank You: I’ve been absolutely floored (and slightly overwhelmed, but in a good way, right?) at all of the accolades and high-fives {d.com} has seen in the last couple of weeks. Between nominations for five different 20sb 2010 Bootlegger Awards (FIVE nominations, y’all?! THANK YOU!), recognition from local news sites, and some truly great opportunities including guest posting, project collaboration, there are some generally Awesome Things coming my way. Now that I’m reunited with a proper Internet connection, I’d like to actually address all that, because it’s neat, and I want to do more than tweet my thanks to my 20sb friends, MinnPost, and CityPages for taking time this week to let me know they like what I’m doing. For now, THANK YOU.
Soon enough, I’ll put together something with all of those links partly because my parents will want them and partly because this is just FUN, and I’m so not above shamelessly bragging about it for a little while 
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Doniree Walker is an aspiring yogini, jet-setter, foodie, and story-teller. She's a writer and geek girl by trade, and a lover and a connector by lifestyle, and is currently obsessed with: train travel, single-serving chocolate milk, and brand new notebooks. Oh, and she's also part supergirl. Wanna be friends? 
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
Here's to 2010 and a new adventure. Best wishes in Colorado!
Great goals, friend. Andrew and I doing the movie one, too—we've compiled a list of must-see classics. I'll have to pass it along for your consideration.
Love the no-car vow. Good luck to you! (Although I do love GPSes dearly.)
I've only seen one movie recently that I enjoyed: 500 Days of Summer. Go see it, it is brilliant.
I also enjoy movies based on Jane Austen, like Pride & Prejudice, and Becoming Jane.
Congrats on the recognitions! It is well deserved!
And wow. Just wow. I am totally impressed by your 2010 commitments! Not having a car would be so hard! As for movies, I watched 3 over the long weekend and none were very good. Of course Wade picked all 3 out so I blame him.
Here's to 2010 and a new adventure. Best wishes in Colorado!
Great goals, friend. Andrew and I doing the movie one, too—we've compiled a list of must-see classics. I'll have to pass it along for your consideration.
This is a pretty good list of commitments! My healthy resolution is to do more yoga! I just started doing it a month ago and can't get enough.
I like the idea of learning more. I need to add that to my list of resolutions as well.
One of my favorite movies is Singing in the Rain. If you haven't seen it yet, definitely add it to your list.
Good luck with your commitments! =)
Good for you, lovely lady, on all of these.
I look forward to all the things 2010 has in front of you. And hearing about each of them. And hanging out again soon.
Let's make it happen, K?
Love the no-car vow. Good luck to you! (Although I do love GPSes dearly.)
I've only seen one movie recently that I enjoyed: 500 Days of Summer. Go see it, it is brilliant.
I also enjoy movies based on Jane Austen, like Pride & Prejudice, and Becoming Jane.
fantastic list!!! “I will not let things I don't know hinder me.” such a wonderful thing (I need) to keep in mind for the new year.
congrats on all of the internet love and recognition! you deserve it!!
Congrats on the recognitions! It is well deserved!
And wow. Just wow. I am totally impressed by your 2010 commitments! Not having a car would be so hard! As for movies, I watched 3 over the long weekend and none were very good. Of course Wade picked all 3 out so I blame him.
Good for you, lovely lady, on all of these.
I look forward to all the things 2010 has in front of you. And hearing about each of them. And hanging out again soon.
Let's make it happen, K?
Props to you for making such a great list of commitments. Will be thinking about you as you make your transition to Boulder!
WOW! I should probably give up pasta for 30 days too. I have no idea how I'd do it though, I am a noodle-holic! Seriously, I need intervention. Maybe it's an idea for non-religious lent?
Legume suggestion: I made this lentil soup yesterday and highly recommend it: http://bit.ly/4BEgoL
I added rice because I wanted to thicken it, but it's not necessary. Lots of luck on your goals and the upcoming year!
fantastic list!!! “I will not let things I don't know hinder me.” such a wonderful thing (I need) to keep in mind for the new year.
congrats on all of the internet love and recognition! you deserve it!!
Sounds like some good goals… happy 2010!!
Great resolutions!
Happy New Year!!!
Props to you for making such a great list of commitments. Will be thinking about you as you make your transition to Boulder!
Favorite movie: The Sting. You just can't go wrong with the Robert Redford/Paul Newman combo. Plus, the soundtrack is wonderful. I have it on vinyl!
I haven't had a car in almost a year. And I don't miss it! Sometimes it's inconvenient, but it's so worth it. Especially when I sit down and think how much I paid for transportation. I buy a bus pass every month and the cost never changes. I ALWAYS know how much I'll be spending and that give me huge peace of mind. Good luck, you can totally do it!
Sounds like some good goals… happy 2010!!
Great resolutions!
Happy New Year!!!
Those sound like great goals, but I can't believe you're going to survive without a car. Good luck. Also – a great movie is Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. You will cry. Be prepared.
Oh I could hug you, I almost took an Etymology class in university and was super excited about it, until it was full (apparently there are keener nerds than me out there) and I never did, but I still love it.
Yay for broadening horizons! I'm going to suggest that you must see Stardust, Frequency, and District 9 – 3 of my favourite movies!
Oh I could hug you, I almost took an Etymology class in university and was super excited about it, until it was full (apparently there are keener nerds than me out there) and I never did, but I still love it.
Yay for broadening horizons! I'm going to suggest that you must see Stardust, Frequency, and District 9 – 3 of my favourite movies!
Congrats on all your achievements!! I wish I could move somewhere where a car wasn't required. It's definitely one of my life goals as well…
As for movies, I could go on forever on this on… but I would def. recommend anything written by Charlie Kauffman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.)
Congrats on all your achievements!! I wish I could move somewhere where a car wasn't required. It's definitely one of my life goals as well…
As for movies, I could go on forever on this on… but I would def. recommend anything written by Charlie Kauffman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.)
this is a great list! and if you read my recent post, you'll know im right there with you- preferring a list of NON-resolutions- things i wont do either!
happy 2010! hope it brings you much happiness and laughter.
OH MY GOD THIS IS LIKE ONE OF MY FAVORITE BLOG POSTS EVER…Etymology in blogging…I'm so happy I could burst! I majored in Classical Studies in college an focused on Latin. Yep, I translated Ovid's Metamorphoses for my Latin thesis project.
So the Latin word for birth is nascor/nasci which literally means “to give birth.” Another conjugation involves the word “natus/nata” from which we get the current teminology regarding natal/pregnancy things.
As for the reconnaissance/recognition, recognition is from the Latin word recognoscere meaning “to recognize or recall.” Which is a prefixed conjugation of another Latin word cognoscere meaning “to know or become acquainted with.”
I feel like I need to be alone now. I just got very excited breaking down words. This may be my final nail in the nerd coffin.
I knew I adored you, but this just made me fall IN LOVE with you. I love
finding other word geeks, and honestly could talk about this all for hours,
and anything I don't know (a lot)? I'd hang on to EVERY WORD.
Ohhh I am so with you on the movies-I don't watch ANY, probably because of the attention span of a toddler but it's def on my list! If you see any that are good, please let me know!
The car thing-I'm in LA where public transportation is unheard of, but moving to NYC next month and selling my car this week-which is freaking me OUT. I am terrified of not having a car, not in the spoiled sense, at all.
I'm going to keep being a student of the world too. Thank you for the reminder. And CONGRATS on all the high fives and accolades…very much deserved.
this is a great list! and if you read my recent post, you'll know im right there with you- preferring a list of NON-resolutions- things i wont do either!
happy 2010! hope it brings you much happiness and laughter.
OH MY GOD THIS IS LIKE ONE OF MY FAVORITE BLOG POSTS EVER…Etymology in blogging…I'm so happy I could burst! I majored in Classical Studies in college an focused on Latin. Yep, I translated Ovid's Metamorphoses for my Latin thesis project.
So the Latin word for birth is nascor/nasci which literally means “to give birth.” Another conjugation involves the word “natus/nata” from which we get the current teminology regarding natal/pregnancy things.
As for the reconnaissance/recognition, recognition is from the Latin word recognoscere meaning “to recognize or recall.” Which is a prefixed conjugation of another Latin word cognoscere meaning “to know or become acquainted with.”
I feel like I need to be alone now. I just got very excited breaking down words. This may be my final nail in the nerd coffin.
I knew I adored you, but this just made me fall IN LOVE with you. I love
finding other word geeks, and honestly could talk about this all for hours,
and anything I don't know (a lot)? I'd hang on to EVERY WORD.
Ohhh I am so with you on the movies-I don't watch ANY, probably because of the attention span of a toddler but it's def on my list! If you see any that are good, please let me know!
The car thing-I'm in LA where public transportation is unheard of, but moving to NYC next month and selling my car this week-which is freaking me OUT. I am terrified of not having a car, not in the spoiled sense, at all.
I'm going to keep being a student of the world too. Thank you for the reminder. And CONGRATS on all the high fives and accolades…very much deserved.
Okay, so, I tried to read past the part where you're not eating pasta for 30 days but it made me think that maybe I don't know you at all and maybe we can't be friends anymore except we're too good of friends for that but like, oh my god, what? WHAT?
I KNOW, RIGHT?!
But… Relax. I ate enough pasta tonight to last me SIXTY days. I'll be
ok. Then I'll be back on it, I promise. PROMISE.
Okay, so, I tried to read past the part where you're not eating pasta for 30 days but it made me think that maybe I don't know you at all and maybe we can't be friends anymore except we're too good of friends for that but like, oh my god, what? WHAT?
I KNOW, RIGHT?!
But… Relax. I ate enough pasta tonight to last me SIXTY days. I'll be
ok. Then I'll be back on it, I promise. PROMISE.
I am the same way about movies so I got a Netflix account. It's kind of sad how excited I am about this.
pasta is like my cheese. you are a mutant.
pasta is like my cheese. you are a mutant.
I just came across your blog. I have been lurking around the blog world and have had multiple attempts at starting my own and promised myself that this year I would make a sincere effort because I have witnessed the power of this community. that being said, I LOVE your writing. I live in Minneapolis, which makes it even more fun to read! Good luck on your new adventures, I look forward to reading more and learning from all of the talented bloggers out there as I find my place in this community.
I just came across your blog. I have been lurking around the blog world and have had multiple attempts at starting my own and promised myself that this year I would make a sincere effort because I have witnessed the power of this community. that being said, I LOVE your writing. I live in Minneapolis, which makes it even more fun to read! Good luck on your new adventures, I look forward to reading more and learning from all of the talented bloggers out there as I find my place in this community.
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