No Such Luxury in 2006

This past semester I began to understand the meaning of the phrase "the luxury of time" in whole new way. I had once had it - and it was gone. Even in the busiest of times in my "prior life," I had countless moments to waste on television or email or meeting up for tea, but this all changed in August of 2005 with the start of my new life - law school. Before I had friends and varying activities. I ate well, I enjoyed music and writing and thinking of things to do with my time. I wondered about how to live my life and what all my decisions meant and who I could visit on the weekend and how far I could drive and still make it back for Monday morning work. I budgeted to create a whole block of time to waste in foreign countries teaching organic gardening. I was an organic gardener. Now I am a law student and have law school; and though I tried my best to hold onto my inner humanity, gardening season ended in early September this year, all exercise ceased sometime in early October, I put down my guitar (with a few sporadic exceptions) from September through December 21st, and my list of friends became frighteningly tied to the law school.

So yes, most of my fancies have dwindled away in the abyss of first semester at law school, and now having a moment to breath (sort of) over my winter "break," I am met with the disturbing fact that I have become less human. My passions and hobbies have been pushed aside, I see my friends at 4 month intervals (if that), and when I do have free time, I've forgotten how to relax, so I no longer even enjoy it. So in the spirit of New Year's resolutions, I am resolving to take "it" (my humanity) back. Here are a few tips for myself, which I'm sure I will break, but at least they're written down, glaring and hopefully inspiring during the months of grueling studying to come.

1. Study all day - play at night.

2. Get a full night's sleep every night.

3. Move to Camden, so that sleep is a possibility.

4. Take a walk every day that "real" exercise is not feasible.

5. Play music, passionately.

6. Write notes to friends and family when you are unable to visit.

7. Remember why you started this thing, breath and find power in the inspirations that brought you here.

8. Eat healthy meals at a reasonable speed. Eat lots of vegetables.

9. Start a manageable garden in March. Love it and care for it.

10. Be gracious and kind to others. Be patient and helpful always - even when pressed for time.

11. Be active in passionately pursuing the kind of justice you believe in.