A kindly gave me a big opening for an article: "At least once a year family, friends and strangers converse about their trip, admit weaknesses, and seek ways to improve over the next 365 days. In the supply lines, restaurants, international terminals, even hospitals annually NYR is an "icebreaker" We want to know if other as we intend to be better. Why? "It's a good conversation opener I think sometimes the interviewer is genuinely interested, and it is also probably good in general to give a voice to your goals -.. A kind of action-like Coelho, to allow the universe conspire to help you find success
Some people have had the usual resolutions: lose weight or debt reduction, while others had more esoteric objectives :. the self-control, and to be more conscious and grateful
Some had prescriptions for defining the resolution, which included the setting "key objectives that can be achieved in a number of ways." this is definitely my style. another favorite was "resolutions that involve doing something rather than not do something. Good resolution: Travel more. Bad resolution :. . Eat fewer carbs "Sounds good A friend usually does not make resolutions, but said she could this year. It might be fun to make resolutions with family and friends, but she advised "If significant changes are needed, I do not think people should put them out until 1 January". True dat.
A friend sent me a photo of a sign in the elevator that advises passengers that the electricity supply is unreliable, and not to panic should they get stuck unexpectedly. The sign is trying to ensure travelers that "oxsygen" will still flow well (if?) The judgment "of the lift or the race." Do not panic when things go wrong, as they inevitably do in time life time and, more frequently, in a country with limited infrastructure, is a very worthy resolution.
I do a bit as iconic sign of the war in England, which advises "Keep Calm and Carry On", and the more modern variations, such as "Keep calm and eat a cupcake."
For an expat, the board is apt.
Living abroad has many opportunities for personal growth, the essence of New Year's resolutions. It is sometimes easy to forget what a privilege to live in another country, especially on comfortable expat package, when faced occasionally with life unpleasant in a place where things are sometimes done differently.
So, in addition to setting career goals for myself in 2012, I will continue to work on a personal goal that I set when I arrived in Jakarta there are a little over a year : when I'm irritated about something, I'll try to keep the peace and be grateful.
When my cook said there is no more canned pumpkin in the store, when fresh, real pumpkins abound locally, I will quietly remind him that we prefer to use fresh ingredients, and I will be thankful that we have someone to prepare food for us.
When the waiter announces the arrival of my drink or wants to remove an empty plate at the table and think it is better to interrupt my conversation to do its job quietly, quietly I'll admit his presence and be thankful that I can eat.
When the airline inexplicably keeps us waiting on the tarmac in a hot plane for more than an hour to bring us back to the gate to wait longer before canceling our flight, I will be grateful for unexpected extra night in Bali, and the ability to travel anywhere.
The fact is the fortune has favored us expats. The stakes are not nearly as high for us as they are almost half of the population of Indonesia, which survives on less than Rp. 20,000 (about the equivalent of $ 2.20) a day.
Yes, life is good enough as an expatriate. I will continue to try to keep that in mind when things go wrong.