The Year of Fun. So Be It.

We’ve all read the myriad of advice columns, blog posts and articles about how New Year’s resolutions really don’t work. They are either too big or too vague or too something. They usually just set you up for more unhappiness. So, I swore of New Year’s resolutions years ago. However, being the self-help junkie that I am, I have not, however, sworn off good ideas that, in my gut, feel like they would bring progress.

A few days ago, Sister announced on her blog that she and her Husband have a New Year tradition in which they “name” their year. One year was the “Year of Travel,” in which they ended up taking 10 trips. (The fact they live in Europe tells me these trips also were not jaunts to the local park, either.) This past year was the “Year of the Book,” as Sister was writing and promoting her book, the Power of Slow.  This year will be the “Year of Beauty” – surrounding themselves with beautiful things, beautiful people, beautiful experiences. (At this point in her blog post, I was thinking about how I could pull a Freaky Friday and adopt her life.)

So, not one to let a good idea go unstolen, I asked Husband If we could do the same. Not telling him my thoughts around a potential theme, I simply asked, what would you like to do more of in 2010? What would you like to dedicate the year to being?

I was particularly enthralled to hear his answer. This was  because, to add to this idea of declaring how you might set yourself on a desired course, I also discovered a book last summer, The Gift of a Year: How to Achieve the Most Meaningful, Satisfying and Pleasureable Year of Your Life” by Mira Kirschenbaum. In this book, she walks you through the steps to identify what you’ve always wanted (or perhaps just need) and coaches you to take a year for yourself to finally just go do it, get it, have it, and/or be it. I was so enthralled with this book that I gave out 25 copies this year to friends at Christmastime.

So what would 2010 be about, Husband? He answered, I want to have more fun around work.  

Wowsa. Over the past summer, The Gift of a Year showed me that what I really wanted – what I really needed – was more fun. I declared months ago that I would take a year to discover what brings joy to my life. I mean honest to goodness bliss. Because, I had no idea. Really.

And, here Husband’s thinking was on a similar path (even if it was attached to work). Clearly, a theme has been resonating in our life. And, thanks to this idea (or set of ideas), 2010 will be more fun. Because, isn’t it already better when you and your spouse have a common goal? Let the games begin.

What will your year be about?

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