New Year’s resolutions are serious. They test your mental and physical endurance. They reveal your innermost fears and desires. And, when used correctly, they provide yet another chance to suffocate those hedonistic habits you love to hate.
That being said, here are some New Year’s resolutions that will vex you, impress you and make your life a little bit better. (And fine, we admit, your mother paid us to remind you to floss.)
1. Gather your friends and your courage and venture under the Grand Avenue bridge to ride the MetroLink. (Advanced: Buy a MetroPass for the Spring 2007 semester. Master level: Go somewhere every week with the MetroLink or MetroBus).
2. Visit that area of St. Louis you’ve heard so much about but never gotten around to visiting: The Hill, The Loop, South Grand, Downtown, Forest Park, Soulard, Webster Groves, the East Side-options abound.
3. Reconnect with old friends. Send snail mail.
4. Master the art of power-napping. Sleep as much as you can.
5. Start papers at least two days before they’re due. (Advanced: Begin papers a week early. Master level: Turn papers in a week early.)
6. Boycott chain restaurants; eat at new places.
7. Go to the new, renovated Simon Rec Center every day of the week.
8. Read at least one book per semester for fun. We recommend works by Bryan Charles, Paul Neilan, Jodi Picoult, David Sedaris, Donna Tartt, Augusten Burroughs, Salman Rudshie, Zadie Smith or any of the classics.
9. Floss at least three times per week. Preferably every day. We mean it.
10. Make it to (almost) all of your classes (Advanced: Get to class on time. Master level: Arrive five minutes early to your 8:00 a.m.).
11. Have a massive snowball fight in the quad.
12. Eat in the Gries Cafeteria at least once per semester. Try a mystery desert treat.
13. Call your mom once a week. (Advanced: Only call her once a week. Master level: Send her a care package).
14. Limit your Facebook logons to the national average of six times per day.
15. Actually go inside the Cupples House, MOCRA and SLUMA.
16. Explore Grand Center, the Intersection of Art and Life. (Advanced: Eat a sandwich at The Best Steak House. Master Level: Go to a show at the Fabulous Fox, Powell Symphony Hall, the Sheldon, Jazz at the Bistro and the Grandel Theater).
17. Start volunteering somewhere.
18. Talk to your professors at least once per week. Visit during office hours. Ask the first question in class.
So grow fond of those 10 extra pounds and quit procrastinating in 2008. This year, focus on improving your city and your self. And don’t forget to floss.
