My harpsichord-playing buddy is very inspiring in this way. I'm a perfectionist and a bad improvisor and often don't try things for fear of doing them badly; he loves the process of throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks. We've only played music together a few times so far, but I love his excitement and openness to suggestion. He doesn't need his arrangements to be perfect and that's been really freeing - it feels more playful than music usually does for me.
So, my resolution is to be more like that guy, I guess! Or at least keep playing music with him until something rubs off.
"Stay in your lane, cauliflower!" made me laugh out loud, and it just got better from there. Despite never doing formal resolutions, I accidentally read some of those annoying end-of-year articles and was already developing a fixation on trying to eat more fermented foods and yogurt (life is too short for such torment, and there are no guarantees).
This framing of resolutions is so much healthier. I seem to have internalized a lot of the instinctual Italian mistrust of neighbors over the years, which bums me out as someone who grew up somewhere it was normal to say hi to strangers I passed on a walk (my husband and I were traveling around the US last year for a couple weeks and he was flabbergasted by how randomly friendly most people were). Your apéro parties sound delightful, and I'm inspired to try to do more intentional socializing this year. (Could also pull out my half-finished novel and keep going if I get really ambitious.)
This year I’m just trying to amplify rather than restrict. I had a really great 2023, and rather than punishing myself at the end of the year for what I didn’t do, I went to maintain and strengthen the things that work for me. Keep dancing! Learn more cooking! Stay sober! Keep playing piano! Get my next belt at kung fu! All these things rewarded me so greatly in 2023 so I’m entering 2024 celebrating them.
My harpsichord-playing buddy is very inspiring in this way. I'm a perfectionist and a bad improvisor and often don't try things for fear of doing them badly; he loves the process of throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks. We've only played music together a few times so far, but I love his excitement and openness to suggestion. He doesn't need his arrangements to be perfect and that's been really freeing - it feels more playful than music usually does for me.
So, my resolution is to be more like that guy, I guess! Or at least keep playing music with him until something rubs off.
"Stay in your lane, cauliflower!" made me laugh out loud, and it just got better from there. Despite never doing formal resolutions, I accidentally read some of those annoying end-of-year articles and was already developing a fixation on trying to eat more fermented foods and yogurt (life is too short for such torment, and there are no guarantees).
This framing of resolutions is so much healthier. I seem to have internalized a lot of the instinctual Italian mistrust of neighbors over the years, which bums me out as someone who grew up somewhere it was normal to say hi to strangers I passed on a walk (my husband and I were traveling around the US last year for a couple weeks and he was flabbergasted by how randomly friendly most people were). Your apéro parties sound delightful, and I'm inspired to try to do more intentional socializing this year. (Could also pull out my half-finished novel and keep going if I get really ambitious.)
I love how cheerful you always are. It's a good reminder for me that sometimes, actually, the world is pretty okay.
It's a charming article - but the dog video steals the show! That could make a dog lover of anyone!!!
This year I’m just trying to amplify rather than restrict. I had a really great 2023, and rather than punishing myself at the end of the year for what I didn’t do, I went to maintain and strengthen the things that work for me. Keep dancing! Learn more cooking! Stay sober! Keep playing piano! Get my next belt at kung fu! All these things rewarded me so greatly in 2023 so I’m entering 2024 celebrating them.
Great piece, Mari!
this was a ridiculously enjoyable read! thank you Mari for providing an entertaining and beautiful perspective yet again!