I LOVE being spontaneous.
I am most spontaneous.
That is one of the qualities people love about me—
That I can burst into a song or dance when the moment feels right.
And right only for me.
I mean, dancing in a grocery store is hardly appropriate, but that’s me being spontaneous.
I’ll dance in a grocery store aisle when I feel like dancing.
***
Because I am largely spontaneous, I love a degree of structure in my life.
And so, I take care of certain rituals until they become habits.
A few constants that keep me rooted, keep me grounded.
This year, I got three strongest habits:
Photographing the sunrise, photographing my meals, photographing the sunset.
And it looks like I’m completing a whole year of doing it without missing a beat.
***
In 2017, I did track the 365 sunsets of the year.
Actually, it was 366 since I got an extra sunset flying from the Philippines in the afternoon, and arriving in the US in the afternoon of the same date.
This year, I missed a sunset and a sunrise because I flew from west to east, and the sky above did not give me a chance for the sunset and sunrise view.
But other than that, I shot all the sunrises and sunsets of 2022.
And everything is documented at @petersolisnery on Instagram.
***
Do I want to do this again in 2023?
Perhaps not.
And that is why I am dealing with separation anxiety now.
I will begin to miss my morning and afternoon alarms for the sunrise and sunset of the day.
This year is a year of commitment.
I said that I was going to track all the sunsets and sunrises of 2022, and that’s what I did.
I said that I was going to win the Palanca Awards, and that was what I did.
***
In addition to the sunrise/sunset photography, I also vowed to document all the food that I was going to eat.
To help me with it, I bought Ate, a food tracking app.
It was very social media-friendly so I posted with accountability.
All meals of the day were posted on Instagram as one (summary) photo.
But since Facebook is my preferred social media platform, I post my daily summaries every five days.
My app subscription expires in January.
Do I want to renew it, and continue with my food journal?
I do not really think so.
***
There are going to be some changes in 2023.
I wish to modify these healthy habits.
I’m still going to be mindful of my food and meals, but I do not think that I really want the extra responsibility of photography.
As my friends have often joked, I could still be photographing my meal while they already finished their desserts.
Admittedly, it also looks strange that I collect all the hors d’oeurves in a plate before I start wolfing them down.
***
Habits reinforce my strength of character.
Because I know that I am consistent, and consistently striving for consistency and excellence, I know that I do things more excellently than most.
Simple logic: If I can show consistency in such plain and ordinary task as taking a sunset photo, how much more consistency can I do with tasks that are meaningfully productive?
***
I don’t know about you, but I trust a person who can take beautiful sunset photos.
And if I am hiring, I’m going to employ first a person who can wake up before sunrise.
***
In my experience with sunrise and sunset chasing, one cannot watch the sun in the east or the west, and be blind to the beauty of the world, to the grace of God, and to the possibilities of the day.
In my experience with my food diary, food is always more delicious, more colorful, more satisfying when you are mindful of its flavors and existence.
***
Separation anxiety is real.
I mean, I’m not vulnerable to it because my interests are varied; and I have a rich, rich life.
But I can understand that abruptly withdrawing from the habits that you have developed in the year can be stressful and anxiety producing.
But I have one cure for sepanx: start a new habit.
So, which ones will it be in 2023?
Dancercise? Running? Poetry writing?
I still have a few days before making those strong new year’s resolutions./PN
