The Future is Now (sadly)

How many times have I made a resolution for the future? I will start the diet tomorrow. I will exercise tomorrow. I will concentrate on writing once the semester starts.

I have finally come to admit that that is all COMPLETE BULL.

Here's the problem: there is no future. That sounds scary-- but it's actually not. Tomorrow becomes today as soon as the clock strikes midnight. My resolution easily applies to this new "today"-- suddenly "I will start the diet" is easily bumped over to the next day and the next day... I never actually reach the promised "tomorrow."

Unfortunately, the future is now. Today, is yesterday's tomorrow (that sounds like a t-shirt slogan). I'm definitely not the first person to come up with this-- and I know I've heard people tell me that I have to take charge of my life now, not later. But I always kind of blew it off. I mean, it's so much easier to wait until tomorrow. Especially if tomorrow never comes.

So what changed my mind?

One of my friends out here (the one we've decided is destined to be the most successful) Writes regularly in his blog, Greener Grass. He has also (and this is the icing on the cake) just written a book. It's his second book, but it's the one that might get published. He already has an agent. And, he's like the nicest person I know (so out goes the, "well, his life is totally perfect but he's a total dick" excuse).

I have no more excuses. Zach works at this internship. He does research for LMU. He was a Penn student just like me (he just graduated). There is no reason why I can't finish my book. I just need to stop making these resolutions telling myself I'll start working harder tomorrow.

My screenwriting professor, when she wrote her book, woke up at 4 am every morning to be able to write before her kids woke up. Then, she went to work. I can barely haul myself out of bed at 8 to go to work. And if I don't have to... I skipped yoga this morning to sleep in until 11.

I have to remember: there is no tomorrow. There is only today, and what I decide to do with it.

For starters, I can stop watching five hours of 30 Rock every night.

More Pigs

Sometimes, you just need to remember what's really important in life.

A Year of Complete Happiness?

Cathal Morrow has an interesting theory. "happy / unhappy are entirely unrelated," he writes, "happiness is a permanent state in us all, if we allow it to be."

He's testing his theory in a different sort of happiness project, called a year of complete happiness. His goal is to find the happiness that exists in every single moment, rather than continually seek happiness elsewhere. In a way, his project is very similar to Gretchen Rubin's, except his is a little more philosophical.

I can't help but wonder if Cathal is right. Is happiness a permanent state?

I've always believed that our permanent state is neutral, and it's up to our actions to boost ourselves up or down. But if Cathal is right, we ought to appreciate our "default settings" more.

Just for kicks, I'm posting a picture of the newest additions to my "cute" collection. My owl mug, and two kokeshi dolls. :)