The December issue of Whole Living Magazine was a boon for me. Not only is it full of great recipes, beauty tips, and ideas for staying healthy this winter season, but it featured a wonderful piece by Salon.com writer Andrew Leonard entitled "The Gift of Tao" where he talks about how he rediscovered Laozi's famous work "The Way and Its Power" or Tao-te Ching on his bedroom bookshelf.
Feeling in a funk -- a major pay cut at his job left him struggling to make ends meet, he'd gained some weight that year -- he was in the right mood at the right moment when he stumbled upon the well-worn paperback.
He explains that no other Asian literary work has been translated into as many Western languages. He decided then and there that maybe he was striving too hard for success -- in love, in work, in exercise (he tracked every single mile he biked). Maybe he should just "be", just do the "thing" for fun -- be more Zen.
So that year, instead of creating a list of "grand resolutions" like he normally did, he decided to state something small, simple and pleasurable. He liked to cook -- he decided to resolve to learn how to cook Indian cuisine. He posted this on Facebook and went out for a bike ride and when he came back, he had received an email from a national magazine editor saying she wanted to hire him to write a piece about learning to cook Indian. Laozi must have been laughing his ass off!
This article has inspired me to make a list of resolutions that do not overwhelm me this year, but that are things that are simple, small and infinitely pleasurable, just like Andrew's. Here are my initial thoughts:
1. Read James Joyce's Ulysses: I've never read this book and always wanted to. I was in a book club over 15 years ago where we were supposed to read the book, but I never did. I love reading classics from the early 20th century so I will attempt this again in 2012.
2. Cook a whole fish: I like to cook, but most of the time I take the easy way out and cook things that I've cooked before. I would like to eat more seafood and I'd like to cook more Asian dishes. This would fit right in.
3. Go Skiing: I've never been skiing! And, my husband Randy goes at least once a year when he goes to conferences in Colorado or Canada. I've never joined him on these particular trips, so this year I will take the plunge.
4. Put my money where my mouth is and donate to causes I care about. Every year, and year round, I say I will donate to various causes. When I watch PBS and they have a Telethon, I always say I will make a donation and become a viewer/member. I also get inspired to donate to the ASPCA or the World Wild Life Fund whenever I read or watch commercials on the animals who need homes and care, or who are going extinct, but I do nothing. I vow to do something this year.
5. Visit Turkey. This is a no-brainer as Randy and I are planning a trip for this Spring. I've always wanted to visit Istanbul and see its beautiful buildings, eat the food, wander its streets and bazaars. this year this dream will come true.
Why don't you join me in making a list of resolutions that are small and spare, just like the Tao would suggest?
Happy New Year!
Monday, January 2, 2012
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