Friday, January 14, 2011

Hola 2011!

It never ceases to astonish me how much beauty we can create in our lives if we are receptive to it. If we all resolve to do the things we are called to do, the ones that bring inexhaustible, irrepressible joy to our lives, we all contribute to making the world a much happier place for ourselves and others. This is the fuel of my life. This makes me feel most alive. And because of this, I am inspired and compelled to act on my other callings. I don’t think I have a long list of those anymore, which delights me because it must mean I am already making my life rich and full.

Here’s what I’m looking forward to in 2011:
· More serious salsa dancing. I have met so many passionate and great salsa dancers over the weekend who’ve inspired me to take dancing to another level. It will be a challenge given the limited access to world class training in a small city like Reno, and it goes without saying that it will require a lot of hardwork, but as I always say, who wants easy? I made a pact to myself to bust my ass learning at the San Francisco Salsa Festival in March. Something tells me my life is bound to change again.

· Learn Spanish – in fact I signed up for classes today! All those semesters of Spanish in University have been futile. I feel like I’m starting all over again. But I think I should capitalize on the fact that so many Filipino words have Spanish etymologies anyway. This should be fun and should get me ready for my planned trips to South America and Spain. Conjugation starts in two weeks!

· Celebrate my birthday dancing the tango in Buenos Aires, salsa in Uruguay or samba in Ipanema. I imposed a moratorium on the dancing for myself for at least a few weeks, but I could not stay away. I took my first tango lesson on Wednesday!

· The Trip to Europe, at last, solo preferably. I’m dreaming up itineraries as we speak which will undoubtedly include Paris and Roma. Then it will be Espana (Ibiza?!) and Greece, maybe Turkey?

· Get more serious about writing. I really should try freelancing again. Oh Universe, are you reading this?

. Engage in helping environmental conservation efforts in the Philippines from a distance

· Taking more advanced swimming lessons in the Spring. Seriously. I should be able to swim in deep water already. How the heck can I surf?

· Someone told me that if you put something down in writing, as in a list, and even if you put that away or forget about it, you can come back to the list years later and find out that you would have checked off most, if not all of what’s in the list. So to test that, I’m going to write something so farfetched and wild. I. Want. To. Be. A. Morning. Person. Or at least try. I want to try what it’s like to be that cheery person who gets up at the crack of dawn for a jog, come back for a home-cooked unhurried breakfast and be energized for a day of work.

· More Yoga! More running! More Ultimate Frisbee! More books!

· Learn how to cook Thai. I had the best, authentic Pad Thai at a nondescript restaurant in Trang (south of Thailand) and it left indelible marks on my palate. It did not have the peanut sauce I am used to, but instead, had some sort of a dry shrimp paste balanced with spices and lime. Just unforgettable!

How are YOU living it up?

1 comment:

  1. Trish,
    I love that you want more, more, more. I want to get back to that place.

    I don't have the guts to write my list--what if I come back after a few years and I haven't done any of them? What if I change my mind?

    Maybe I need to write a list of less, less, less?

    ReplyDelete