I remembered the time when I first started to write down my New Year resolutions about ten years ago, I had a long list of roughly more than ten items. Then I put almost eighty percent of my time and passion achieving these resolutions at the beginning of one and two months each year. The truth was I forgot all of them after half of the year. In the second half of the year, I barely wanted to cope with my job and my family. The sad thing was that when the last day of the year arrived, I normally got nothing ready for the New Year celebration but rushed to meet that deadline, usually for my work.
So the New Year resolutions were gone. The year end summary looked banal either. Till I wrote the New Year Resolutions the next year, I suddenly remembered I'd written almost the same the year before. Having realized my doubtful ability for execution, I shortened my list of resolutions year by year till last year, for 2017, I aim for two to three.
I think it's a nature when get ageing, we need to reduce something gradually as what we usually say making your life into a minus process. I made a decision that I only put two things in my 2017 resolution list.
1. Continue to write essays.
I'd like to put down a number here, say 300 essays. But perhaps it's better not. I don't hundred percent trust myself due to my past poor record of achieving my New Year resolutions. So long as I can do it, I will make it happen. I will be content with any number of essays that I may author.
I loved writing when I was very young. But I stopped when I started working more than twenty years. I was so glad when I picked up my pen again (typewriting on the computer instead) last September. You can't imagine that feeling I had which was like discovering a long lost precious gift. So I want to keep that feeling this year. I equally believe that one of the best ways to record life experience is writing. Photos and videos may record some exciting moments of your hearty laughter, with your kids or loved ones. But that's not enough. Writing some words down can witness your thinking from your heart no matter you are in a high or a low mood, your good or bad times. What is written can be much more reliable and long-lasting than "memory" in your mind. Obviously, memory fades over time.
As was written in my last essay, writing benefits you in many aspects. Thinking and learning is a life-long mission. Didn’t the French philosopher Descartes declare “I think, therefore I am.” in the 17th century? At least I guess these two points perhaps can reduce the possibility of Alzheimer when people getting old. Another benefit of writing is enrichment of our lives by breaking the routines of three meals plus TV/kids or grandkids. Writing will help us to discover those precious, interesting, exciting and attractive moments, however tiny and fleeting, in our lives. With such discoveries, our everyday life would become more special than we would have fixed in our mind.
2. To be a more devoted volunteer.
I realize that I received more from, than I have contributed to the people around me and the society, during the past year. I believe my way of thinking has changed, as often happiness or unhappiness is a mere result of personal perception. I am very grateful, and this could be a good starting point for me in year 2017.
I felt blessed that some people provided me much needed help when I took care of my parents when they were both hospitalized due to fatal and long illness. However I am strong, there were moments that I was feeling helpless, especially since I had to deal with all the tough situations alone. Some friends and a few of my former colleagues offered me hands and accompanied me through that hardships. I was most touched by the love and the care that the volunteers of the Life Care Team rendered to me during my mother's last moments in her life in 2015. After her passing, I became a volunteer of the same team, too.
I enjoyed a lot my volunteer work last year as I wanted to give back to the others in the society for what I had received. It was also because karma has become much clearer to me. I tried to stop any complaining. And I personally understand that complaining will not bring benefits but only harm, such as anxiety, irritation and annoyance. I became more positive, more tolerant and more peaceful. That makes me feel very happy everyday and lively to do everything. I have rejuvenated.
Writing and volunteering made my life simple and happy in 2016, to which I am determined to continue in the New Year. These are my Resolutions in 2017. What are yours?
On the first day of 2017, I just have a whim to write something in English. Enjoy. :)--for fun.:)
记得早年刚开始写新年计划的时候，洋洋洒洒写了十多条，然后约模开始的两个月功夫，意气风发地几乎全情投入，到了年中基本就扔一边了，下半年照例是工作家庭两头忙。伤心的是，每每到了年底，庆祝新年的事情没有准备，而总是匆匆忙忙的，为最后一分钟的业务截止而冲刺。
自己年初定的计划早就扔到爪哇国里去了，年尾的总结呢，便也可有可无，直到第二年再订立新年计划，才突然想到原来大部分去年都写过。也许是知道自己执行力不够，自己的新年计划，每年都在缩减，今年2017，我打算就写两三条。
我想这大约也是自然规律，年纪渐长，生活就要开始做减法了，所以我决定今年就做两件事。
一，继续写作
本应该定个数字，比方说一年写他个300篇，想想还是不要了，往年计划的虎头蛇尾，告诉我，自己很大程度，并不能百分百地完成。我想，只要写吧，只要能写下去，写多少篇都好。
我很小的时候就喜欢写作，但工作以后就不写了，这一停就是二十多年。当我去年九月重新拿起笔的时候（现在当然是用电脑码字了），你想象不到我有多么惊喜，感觉就像是一个珍贵的礼物失而复得，所以今年，我仍要保持这个感觉。我相信，写作是记录生活和经历的最好的方式之一，照片啊，录影带之类的，虽然也能记录你开怀大笑的瞬间，你和你的孩子或心爱的人在一起的时间，但那并不足够，只有你写下的文字才能见证你的思想，和你发自内心的快乐或者沮丧，你经历的顺境或者逆境。能写下来的文字，比“记忆”可靠多了，因为文字能够持久，而记忆，有时会随着时间的推移随风飘散。
在我上一篇文章中写道，写作能带来不少好处，思考和学习是终生的事情，十七世纪法国哲学家笛卡尔不也是这样说嘛，“我思，故我在。”而且我猜测，不断地学习思考，会减少老年罹患阿兹海默症的概率。写作还有一个好处是能丰富你的生活，而不仅仅是一日三餐，加上电视或者孩子，孙子的固有模式。写作还能帮我们发现生活中那些珍贵而有趣的，兴奋而诱人的时刻，而美好的事情往往都是那么微小而稍纵即逝。因着这些记录，我们每天的生活才比原来脑中的构想，变得更加不同寻常。
二，做更好的志愿者
过去一年，我得到的远比我付出的多，对周围的人，和这个社会都是一样。由此我的思考方式发生了变化，幸福和不幸福都是个人感知的结果。我非常感恩，对于2017年而言，就是一个很好的开始。
我感到非常幸运，当我需要帮助的时候，周边的人，总是向我伸出援手。回忆我双亲重病的时候，虽然我算是比较坚强的人，但有时还是很无助，尤其是当我独自面对各种棘手的问题时，一些朋友和一些旧同事，陪我一起度过那些艰难的时光。最感动的是生命关怀团的志愿者们，在2015年我母亲的临终时期，给了我很多爱和关怀，于是母亲去世后，我也加入了生命关怀团，成为了一名志愿者。
我非常高兴去年开始了志愿者的工作，因为我充满感恩，对于自己的所得要回报。我也更加深信，因果的真实不虚。我不再抱怨，而且我认为抱怨没有一丝好处，只能带来伤害，焦虑，生气和烦恼。现在我变得更加积极，更加包容，更加平和。那样的我，使我每天都感觉快乐，做任何事情都生气勃勃，我似乎变年轻了。
写作和义工工作让我在2016年，感觉生活简单而幸福，所以我决定新年里，仍要继续。这些就是我的计划，你的呢？
2017年的第一天，我突发奇想，想用英文写一篇文章，于是就有了这样一篇。愿你读到也开心。
