I guess this is somewhat akin to explaining my new year resolutions.  Most people fail to carry out such resolutions in the long run because of a basic psychological problem.  That is, they focus on the goal rather than making a deep change in how they define themselves internally as a person. For example, a typical ‘goal’ might be to develop rock hard abdominal muscles or ‘abs’ as they are usually called. So, one does sit ups everyday and perhaps achieves that goal. However, once the goal is achieved the motivation disappears and the normal condition returns. Instead, one can tell oneself that one has a new identity as a ’fit and healthy person.’ Then one identifies the habits that one change incrementally to become that identity such as eating better, doing a little exercise everyday until eventually one may well arrive at a healthy ‘core’ naturally and for good.

Having finished my rather dull introduction, I will now tell you two things I am changing this year.  First of all I am changing the way I study Japanese.  I have been using a superb web-site called FluentU for a number of years now and I feel it has been very useful.  I typically spend one hour a day looking at their carefully graded you tube excerpts and repeating them, often with my eyes closed.  Although this is useful, I realized that in order to reach a higher level of Japanese (or anything for that matter) one has to not only review things one can do, but also push oneself into really challenging areas. FluentU is no longer a challenge for me. Rather, it is a useful review and practice of stuff I can do fairly easily. Thus, in order to challenge myself into reaching a higher level I am listening to real Japanese news and current affairs programs and transcribing exactly what they are saying.  I also repeat the sentences. This ‘dictation’ work is very tough but it made me realize I had been getting too soft on myself and that right now I need to be a hard core language learner.

The second thing I am going to do is exercise with a heavy kettlebell three time a week.  Although I enjoy daily yoga it does not build so much muscle (although it can do!) so I am going to buildup my health using this simple training tool.

Enjoy your year.  Don’t waste a moment of it!

Warmest regards,

Buri