February Letter Project

It always takes me until about February to come up with an impressive set of New Year's Resolutions. I always have about 25 of them, like eat more vegetables, stop saying "OMG!" all the time, hang my coat up when I get home, stop describing people I don't know as "stupid idiots."

Of course, the resolutions tend to peeter out around March, but that's not really the point. Like Dave B said, any opportunity to make a choice that will improve your life is worth taking. Even the brave act of making that promise is worth celebrating, which explains the hubbub over weddings.

So, let's celebrate me and my New Year's resolutions, shall we? We shall. The theme of the year is "health." Boring. To me. BUT! I have become very aware of my own mortality lately, ever since I turned 25. This is no laughing matter, son! I have a huge wrinkle above my eyebrow, and it's just staring at me, as if to say, "Every day you are getting mushier and your insides don't love all the potato chips you eat and you will be deaf by 27--TURN DOWN BEYONCE, WOMAN!"

I read recently this small quote: "Health is freedom." Small but true. When you are healthy, you can do nearly anything! I want to be a healthy person because I want to do nearly anything, but I know that health comes in all sorts of forms, which is why I'm going to devote each month of this year to a different aspect of health. Here's my calendar:

January: Relationship Health. I meant to be a very forgiving and loving person all of January, but I forgot, so I'll try it again this month.

February: Social Health. Here's where the Letter Project comes in! I'm going to be attentive to my social network. Not necessarily the internet kind, though I think facebook and blogs and what have you are wonderful for social health, especially the poking bit. Rather, I'm going to go back to one of my first loves--letter writing--and pen a special note to a dear one every day of the month.

March: Spiritual Health. This will coincide very nicely with Lent.

April: Cooking with produce. I always get most excited to eat well when there is good produce to be had, and I want to learn how to cook with fruits and vegetables so as to highlight their winning qualities. April produce is splendid for this activity. Strawberry pie and asparagus quiche are really good for you, right?

May: Physical strength. Not yet sure how this will go down. Besides walking, and dancing in my kitchen I suppose, I am a huge wimp when it comes to exercise--especially the kind that requires my ability to lift things.

June: Mental Health. Maybe I'll finally learn how to play Sudoku? And enjoy it??

July: Dental Health. Major flossing.

August: Mindful of Beverages. This is the one I dread, so I put it in my least favorite month. I never aspire to stop drinking coffee, but I recognize my slight addiction. At the very least, I hope to truly enjoy every cup of coffee I drink, and not just guzzle it down because I'll get a headache if I don't. Also, alcohol. Woof.

September: Back to Spiritual Health. This month, I want to learn how to meditate for longer than 30 seconds. And I don't mean meditating on how much I dislike January Jones and how much I want sour gummy bears. September will also be renamed Yoga Palooza, at least in the Mari Household.

October: Cardio Health. This probably involves jumping. Also, eating heart-healthy foods...like dark chocolate and red wine.

November: Cooking with whole grains. I already eat mostly whole grains, at least that's how I like to think of myself, but I'd love to learn how to cook whole wheat pasta that doesn't taste like The New York Times, make good oaty sweets, and bake my own crackers and granola.

December: Back to mental health. Start learning a new language, or improve on an old one. Also, take a look at my year, which I have resolved to document with care this year. I am trying to make note of every movie seen, book read, and song loved. Want to hear my January playlist? Here it be! These songs are particularly fitting for the balmy winter we all seem to be enjoying.

The goal is to get into good habits that will last past the assigned month. We'll see.

So, let us begin! First letter o' the month goes to my dear friend Jessie. My hope for everybody is to have a friend like Jessie. She is something else, that lady. A human sparkle, if we're going to be honest with ourselves.

And for that, she gets a Taylor Swift Valentine's Day card! You are jealous.

P.S. There are still a couple slots open in February for letters! Send me your address if you want to prevent me from sending fan mail to Zac Efron the last 4 days of the month.