23 for 2023


At some point in the last decade, I changed how I approach New Years resolutions: Instead of creating abritrary goals that I'd inevitably not keep, I started to build rules for myself around the things I value.

These rules help me change for the better by prioritizing what's important to me, and by being rooted in who I am, I am much better at sticking with them. 

I started adopting these rules years ago - and, based on whatever was going on in my life, some years brought more rules than others.

With 2023 around the corner, here are my 23 rules for 2023:

  1. [2012] Listen with the same energy as when I talk
  2. [2013] Laugh Out Loud. (For real.) 
  3. [2014] Embrace failures with enthusiasm.
  4. [2015] Feed my wonder, exercise my curiosity.
  5. [2016] Strangers are future friends in disguise.
  6. [2016] Be better about giving praise.
  7. [2017] Magic is not just for kids.
  8. [2017] It's ok to say "I don't know" but finish it with "I can find out..."
  9. [2017] Creativity is a muscle that I ave to keep exercising.
  10. [2018] Collect stories, memories, anecdotes and facts.
  11. [2018] Find the value in cricitisms I disagree with.
  12. [2018] Remember that always having a solution, new idea, opinion, can be annoying, counter-productive, and not always what someone is looking for.
  13. [2019] Read - at least one book a month.
  14. [2019] Don't put off spending time with someone who wants to spend time with me.
  15. [2020] Say what I'm worried about, especially if I'm worried about saying it.
  16. [2020] It's ok to be vulnerable.
  17. [2020] Be for someone else the thing I need myself.
  18. [2021] Be better and more consistent with praise.
  19. [2021] Pause and enjoy a good coffee at a good temperature.
  20. [2021] Write - at least once a week.
  21. [2021] Check in on the people you haven't heard from in a while.
  22. [2022] Always be willing to help. 
  23. [2023] There's never a good time, but tomorrow is worse. 
I have the tendency to put things off, so this rule is about getting the best results by embracing my impatience. Whether it's eating better, getting in shape, working on a project, doing housework - tomorrow brings worse results. And in service of this rule, I'm not waiting until January 1st to start. 😁 

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