Giveaway, and New Year's resolutions

[mollyringle]

On the "fun yet business" side of things, go here to enter to win one of my ebooks, or any of the other contenders for "Best Ebooks Read by Andrea at the Reading Lark blog in 2011" (she named two of mine - hurray!) -

http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2011/12/goodbye-to-2011-giveaway-1.html

And, to look ahead to 2012, I suppose we all need to frame our resolutions. I have yet to fix on a really good one for next year. But if it helps, I will share with you the two absolute best New Year's resolutions I ever made. I don't remember the exact year of either of these, but they were from sometime in the past decade.

The first was no more getting into arguments online. Yes, that means no posting obnoxiously controversial opinions either.

The second, in a similar vein, was no more indulging in road rage. (I never discharged firearms at fellow drivers, but angry passing or speeding or swerving to "get back" at annoying drivers doesn't help any of us, especially ourselves, does it now?)

Sure, I slip up on both these counts from time to time. But even following them 90% of the time has led to a dramatic reduction of my stress and irritation levels. Imagine--just imagine--the widespread peace and harmony if everyone in the world adopted merely those two simple resolutions. For the first one, Internet traffic would probably drop by half. Or maybe the time spent in flame wars would be diverted into creating and laughing at LOLcats instead. Hey, that'd still be a global improvement on the whole.

But I cite those two resolutions because anger is my biggest flaw. I suppose if you have a different main flaw, you might draw more benefit from a different resolution. Share your own ideas if you like. Happy New Year, whatever you wish to start or stop doing!

Comments

[girlspell.livejournal.com]

I've not read any of those books. Are they Young Adult? I never read Young Adult books. I know they are the current rage, but I just never had the desire to read them.

I usually avoid online arguments. If caught in one, I just bail. Same with so called road rage. I'll fall back and let em have the entire road. Too many bad incidents in my state. Driving has become dangerous. I don't like it anymore. There was a time I enjoyed it. Now I drive because I have to.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Yes, that list is all Young Adult, but the blog does have several other giveaways going on, including some Adult (that is, non-YA) books. This tag lists the full complement of end-of-year giveaways there:
http://readinglark.blogspot.com/search/label/Goodbye%20to%202011

I'm glad there are people like you who already keep out of the online arguments and the road rage! Gives me hope for the world.

[gavinworld.livejournal.com]

Those are both excellent resolutions and ones to which I strive to adhere (but don't always succeed).

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Heh, yeah, those of us with nasty tempers are bound to fall off the wagon from time to time. But even complying half the time makes for a less stressful life!

[babydracky.livejournal.com]

(http://petitemimine.centerblog.net)

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Hee! Pretty and sparkly! Thank you. A happy and wish-fulfilling new year to you as well!

[babydracky.livejournal.com]

Thank you♥

[dean mayes (from livejournal.com)]

I spent a healthy portion of my internet time this past year engaging in "discussion" with a number of conservative "friends" online across a number of current topics. On each occasion, I found myself tearing their arguments down by pointing out that tbey were basing them on discredited research or argument that had been proved to be 'porky pies'. I rarely gave into my anger, but they certainly gave into theirs.

My 'extreme right wing' friend count is decidedly barren as I enter 2012, which means - I have no one to argue with. How boring is that gonna be!?

I no longer make resolutions. Basically, I suck at 'em.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Hee hee...it's a darn good thing I didn't meet you till *after* my brainwashed-by-right-wing-friends phase. Even during that phase, I did a lot of arguing with them. Finally I distanced myself and settled happily here in the "extreme center."

I urge the resolution "Write more novel!" for you, because I want to read it. But I know from personal experience that that's not an easy one either. Hmm, what am *I* going to write this year? Crap...better decide...