New Years Resolutions
New Years resolutions and I have a tacit agreement not to interfere with each other.
Every year, despite my better judgment, I always come up with one or two goals for the new year, but I've never been terribly psyched about them. For that reason perhaps, I feel like a bit of a hypocrite when I proclaim them to anyone. It's just that everyone else is doing it, and, well, I just want to be part of the pack.
This year I've got a couple of reasonably standard resolutions, and I'm fairly certain that one will come to fruition. Two nuts to *ahem* crack. I've been working on both for years and I'm close on both.
The first resolution is, obviously, to become licensed to practice law. This is a process that started in late 2004 when I sat for the LSAT. My score, 154, was mediocre and not really great for getting into schools. However, I suspect that my fairly stellar academics in undergrad combined with some other factors to garner me admission. I failed the first time I tried to apply to law school due to technical difficulties with getting transcripts where they needed to go at the right time. That kind of failure - lack of proactivity - is one that I hope and pray has been weeded out during my law school years. The second time I tried to apply I was waitlisted - and got a call on August 3rd or so to begin classes two weeks later. The whole process of getting in to law school and my experiences during law school have reminded me of that old adage, "here but for the grace of God go I." The whole experience, from LSAT to graduation has been a very near thing. I am not a legal theorist, at least not deep down in my soul, and I doubt I ever will be. And I'm totally fine with that. Despite the fact that it is by its very nature abstract, to me law is a practical, everyday, living thing to be used for the betterment of people - meaning you and me and Joe down the street - not to be cloistered in an ivory ... erm, courthouse. So while I'm not a legal theorist, I hope to be a good legal practitioner. Kind of like a witch doctor of the law, putting the smack down on the proverbial Man.
The second resolution is more nebulous but of much more far-reaching importance. I resolve to divorce my Emotional Need for Food ("ENF"). (ENF is a trademarked term coined by a friend of mine in a book that he wrote, linked here. Just thought I should cover my ass and let you know that. You know how lawyers can be.)
I've been battling food most of my life. It's truly a love-hate thing for me. Most of us have probably had similar experiences, judging by the staggering obesity rate in the world. Most of us eat for emotional reasons. Ultimately, that is the long and the short of it. If one is overweight (I include those who are even slightly overweight), and that's almost all of us, then one eats for emotional reasons, not rational ones. One puts food in his mouth to make him feel better. Often this is unconscious behavior. And one cannot control it because the needs being met, i.e. emotional ones, are not subject to rational thought. You can't just put the food down without a serious feeling of deprivation. That ENF is going to scream. Loudly. (For example, as I write this, I've "had" to take a break to grab a piece of chocolate, my emotional need-filler of choice.) So, what to do about this?
For me, the trick lies in 1) divorcing the ENF and 2) finding a way to get those emotional needs met in other ways besides food. I feel like this is something that has been an ongoing journey, and I may have finally figured out a way to root out the problem. Only time will tell, but I suspect that I'm close to a solution. There's no dieting involved, but focusing on a shift in my own perception of my need for food - from emotional to rational. Exercise isn't necessary, but I like to do it anyway because it's good for me.
Anyhow, I am excited about both of these "resolutions" coming to pass in my life in the next year. Should be an interesting ride.
Every year, despite my better judgment, I always come up with one or two goals for the new year, but I've never been terribly psyched about them. For that reason perhaps, I feel like a bit of a hypocrite when I proclaim them to anyone. It's just that everyone else is doing it, and, well, I just want to be part of the pack.
This year I've got a couple of reasonably standard resolutions, and I'm fairly certain that one will come to fruition. Two nuts to *ahem* crack. I've been working on both for years and I'm close on both.
The first resolution is, obviously, to become licensed to practice law. This is a process that started in late 2004 when I sat for the LSAT. My score, 154, was mediocre and not really great for getting into schools. However, I suspect that my fairly stellar academics in undergrad combined with some other factors to garner me admission. I failed the first time I tried to apply to law school due to technical difficulties with getting transcripts where they needed to go at the right time. That kind of failure - lack of proactivity - is one that I hope and pray has been weeded out during my law school years. The second time I tried to apply I was waitlisted - and got a call on August 3rd or so to begin classes two weeks later. The whole process of getting in to law school and my experiences during law school have reminded me of that old adage, "here but for the grace of God go I." The whole experience, from LSAT to graduation has been a very near thing. I am not a legal theorist, at least not deep down in my soul, and I doubt I ever will be. And I'm totally fine with that. Despite the fact that it is by its very nature abstract, to me law is a practical, everyday, living thing to be used for the betterment of people - meaning you and me and Joe down the street - not to be cloistered in an ivory ... erm, courthouse. So while I'm not a legal theorist, I hope to be a good legal practitioner. Kind of like a witch doctor of the law, putting the smack down on the proverbial Man.
The second resolution is more nebulous but of much more far-reaching importance. I resolve to divorce my Emotional Need for Food ("ENF"). (ENF is a trademarked term coined by a friend of mine in a book that he wrote, linked here. Just thought I should cover my ass and let you know that. You know how lawyers can be.)
I've been battling food most of my life. It's truly a love-hate thing for me. Most of us have probably had similar experiences, judging by the staggering obesity rate in the world. Most of us eat for emotional reasons. Ultimately, that is the long and the short of it. If one is overweight (I include those who are even slightly overweight), and that's almost all of us, then one eats for emotional reasons, not rational ones. One puts food in his mouth to make him feel better. Often this is unconscious behavior. And one cannot control it because the needs being met, i.e. emotional ones, are not subject to rational thought. You can't just put the food down without a serious feeling of deprivation. That ENF is going to scream. Loudly. (For example, as I write this, I've "had" to take a break to grab a piece of chocolate, my emotional need-filler of choice.) So, what to do about this?
For me, the trick lies in 1) divorcing the ENF and 2) finding a way to get those emotional needs met in other ways besides food. I feel like this is something that has been an ongoing journey, and I may have finally figured out a way to root out the problem. Only time will tell, but I suspect that I'm close to a solution. There's no dieting involved, but focusing on a shift in my own perception of my need for food - from emotional to rational. Exercise isn't necessary, but I like to do it anyway because it's good for me.
Anyhow, I am excited about both of these "resolutions" coming to pass in my life in the next year. Should be an interesting ride.