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I celebrated with neighbors and friends in NYC on New Year's Day.  A mix of traditional Japanese osechi and other delicacies for a tasty new year.

I celebrated with neighbors and friends in NYC on New Year’s Day. A mix of traditional Japanese osechi and other delicacies for a tasty new year.

I’m not a New Year’s Eve guy.  I have nothing against other people’s celebrations.   For me, I like to start the new year well rested and not hung over.  I went to bed at 9:30.   I celebrated New Year’s day at a mid-day party with Japanese New Year’s food.  I don’t necessarily have resolutions, but I have some general directions I’m taking.   Maybe they’ll help you become a content samurai and help you know more, do more, and play more in 2013:

  • read the table of contents before and after I read a book
  • add speed to the game
  • play/study with the things that intrigue me
  • turn the things that bother me and seem impossible into a game
  • honor the vessel aka find ways to get off my derriere
  • go a little berserk (which I discovered is also a manga while trying to figure out the exact spelling)

Read the table of contents before and after I read a book

I can be a perfectionist and that sometimes prevents me from playing around with really helpful books, in English and Japanese.  I feel like I have to read it cover to cover and I get the いやいや attitude about reading.  Lately, I’ve been re-reading Study Hacks! and focusing on the table of contents and just having fun with it.  Let the content warm the cockles of your heart.  More of that, please.

Add speed to the game

Speed is one way to override perfectionism.

Play/study with the things that intrigue me

I was looking at my notes from Furuichi’s book ,1日30分を続けなさい!Each Day 30 Minutes. Learn to Win! and was reminded of his hint to study things while they are hot for you.   That is the best time to study.  Looking at my notes on Furuichi’s book he seems to do a lot of calculating of how much time you can gain and up your skills or become a better person.  But he also emphasizes the joy part of the game and that you never know where it will take you.  Follow the rainbow.

Turn the things that bother me and seem impossible into a game

Osechi ryori includes sweet black beans and other foods, some which symbolize health, wealth, and happiness.  I say yes to it all!

Osechi ryori includes sweet black beans and other foods, some which symbolize health, wealth, and happiness. I say yes to it all!

I bought a guitar tuner and have a guitar strategically placed in a hidden location away from home.  Am I going to be Jimi Hendrix?  Probably not.   But I can take one part of the piece and dip into Jamplay.com.   If music is a language, then maybe taking a little piece every day will help me communicate with music.  Today power chords.  Tomorrow the world.

Go a little berserk!

Steve Chandler, in his book, Wealth Warrior, asks the question:  “Are you willing to go berserk?  . . . .  It’s usually a person’s unwillingness to go crazy (in a good way) that has them stuck with a boring and financially demoralizing life. ”  Study and act on your dreams, inside and out.   Don’t be afraid to pull out from the crowd and do what you need to do.  Read the book backwards.  Find ways to serve. Go berserk!  Join me.