My 2012 Holiday to-do list.  Not ambitious at all.

For the body– I already agreed to up the exercise quota back to late-summer levels.  The last few months I’ve seen my exercise regimen  slipping wildly due to the loss of Daylight Savings time, colder weather and wetter beaches, and many, many more excuses just like that.  So I’m going on a run a day.  Doesn’t have to be a big one, just a good one – that’s all.

For the soul– I need to finally quit my sneaky, occasional cigarettes.  I like to insist that I’m “not a smoker” simply because it’s not a daily, recurring habit for me.  But enough’s enough, so it’s time to throw out the hidden pack of Spirits and return the lighter to our candle drawer where it belongs.  Just the peace of mind (and clarity of vocal passages/reduced risk of cancer) this would bring me – priceless.  I’ve been fighting this one for years, though. Wish me well.

For the mind– I need to be able to kickstart my creative process more spontaneously, and finish equally as quickly. Writers’ block is a bitch, and I’m tired of submitting to it.  So I’ve decided to host a few small, private sci-fi RPG sessions this holiday week, as building a good campaign will both expose my son to math and storytelling in an approachable way, and force myself to learn how to create on the fly again in the process.  Win/win.  Being a game master forces you to tell an interesting story on the fly and is a great way to get comfortable being spontaneous with your muses.  1d20 vs intelligence?  Critical success!

For the spirit– we’re going to our friends’ Xmas dinner instead of cooking this year.  It’s a simple statement to make, but such a relief in practice.  I’ve (nearly) always planned and cooked Christmas dinner when we hosted the day in our Oakland house.  However, as we’ll be self-contained this year, it’s time to stop acting like a stressed-out host and relax for a change.  I’m also going to spend as much time as possible off this computer and on with my family, as frankly – family is what the holidays should be about.

All my best for a wonderful 2012 holiday season, and a fantastic 2013.