New Year's Resolutions

Now, I know what you're thinking. What's the point of making New Year's resolutions? Do we really keep them? No. I can attest to that more than anybody else. For the past 2-3 years, I've had 3 resolutions that I make every year and never seem to keep:
1. Get fit/lose weight
2. Make my bed
3. Take more pictures

This year will be different.
I refuse to put the aforementioned resolutions on my list. Why?
1. I'm joining a gym and have a hefty bet with my Dad about getting fit. Plus I'm super competitive and I don't want to lose money to him. Done.
2. I make my bed from time to time, in stages. Good enough for me.
3. I've gotten better, esp. since this blogging thing has become a hobby of mine. Taken care of.

this leads to...

2010 MY RESOLUTIONS

1. Go to church every week. Since I moved out here I was going every other week. Partying was taking its toll. December I didn't go at all because it was just too damn cold. I'm buying a heater. If that's my excuse, I won't make it out to church till April.

2. Get NYC Public Library Card to read a book per month

3. Volunteer somewhere (when it gets warmer)

4. Take 'Life Drawing' class. I miss it, my art days. (when it gets warmer)

5. Run NYC Half Marathon (when it gets warmer)

Clearly, I am crippled by east coast weather.

6. Try to buy veggies at Union Square Farmer's market

7. Subscribe to a new publication Currently, my daily fix is cnn.com and nytimes.com. I'm leaning towards WWD but I really like Inc. or Forbes . Suggestions?

8. Cook new dishes

9. Use my tax return to go on a big trip- I'm thinking Paris/Turkey or Macchu Picchu, Peru. Thoughts?

10. Visit at least two of the following cities: Chicago, Boston, Miami

11. Learn to utilize the functions of my blog more and work on layout. :) Help!

12. Get facials- I know this sounds high maintenance but Sister and Mother have been bugging me about it for a while. It also just dawned on me, I'm not in my early 20s. I'm in my mid 20s. Uh-oh!

If you guys are still hesitant about making your own resolutions, this is what inspired me.

http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/

I'm debating whether I should read her book, falls under the realm of self-help. Not so much my taste.

But here are a few quotes that got me:

"One thing I’ve learned from my happiness project – and it’s an uncomfortable truth – is that novelty and challenge bring happiness."

2009 for me more than any other time in my life has convinced me of this "truth."

"The challenge, therefore, is to take pleasure in the atmosphere of growth, in the gradual progress made toward a goal, in the present. The unpoetic name for this very powerful source of happiness is “pre-goal attainment positive affect.”

"But one thing I’ve learned from my happiness project: keeping resolutions is a key to happiness. If you want to make a positive change in your life, you need to figure out what to resolve, and how to keep that resolution. "