"Things to Worry About"

I found this list the other day, "Things to Worry About," written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in a letter to his 11-year-old daughter, Scottie.


(Source: F. Scott Fitzgerald: A Life in Letters; Image: F. Scott Fitzgerald with his daughter, Scottie, in 1924.)

Things to worry about:

Worry about courage
Worry about cleanliness
Worry about efficiency
Worry about horsemanship

Things not to worry about:

Don’t worry about popular opinion
Don’t worry about dolls
Don’t worry about the past
Don’t worry about the future
Don’t worry about growing up
Don’t worry about anybody getting ahead of you
Don’t worry about triumph
Don’t worry about failure unless it comes through your own fault
Don’t worry about mosquitoes
Don’t worry about flies
Don’t worry about insects in general
Don’t worry about parents
Don’t worry about boys
Don’t worry about disappointments
Don’t worry about pleasures
Don’t worry about satisfactions

Things to think about:

What am I really aiming at?
How good am I really in comparison to my contemporaries in regard to:

(a) Scholarship
(b) Do I really understand about people and am I able to get along with them?
(c) Am I trying to make my body a useful instrument or am I neglecting it?

With dearest love,

Daddy

Mission Sites

Sunday morning, the sun was out. I walked to buy a few groceries. Maybe it was that the sun was out, maybe it was the fact I had a little extra time, but whatever the reason, the neighborhood looked particularly beautiful. Here are a few of the photos (a little grainy).

FSC Barber Shop

Mission Dolores

Valentine's Ride

A riding buddy organizes a Valentine's Century every year on the weekend before/around Vday. This year, I knew I couldn't (or shouldn't!) do the entire 100 miles. I opted for 80 and and turned back a little sooner. To start, we rode to Mill Valley, up Highway 1 through Muir Woods and Stinson Beach, to Olema, and on to Point Reyes Station. Our usual stop, Bovine Bakery, is undergoing renovations, so we picked up refreshments across the street at a market instead. RQ and I separated from the rest and headed back through Nicasio, Fairfax and back to the city. When I got home, I was wiped out! I put my feet up, iced my knee, and felt accomplished. And then, I ate chocolate & drank a beer. Hey, it's Valentine's day!

Heading down Highway 1

Highway 1

Things I love

1. Chocolate Zico coconut water--so, so yummy! And, I'm told, full of electrolytes. That means healthy, right?!

2. Instagram--App for my phone. Turns my ho-hum photos into masterpieces.

Instragram--Magic!

3. Frametastic--App for my phone--"frames" photos together

4. Camera+--Another App. This one will turn photos into real postcards and send them out!

5. Visual.ly--a website with "infographics" and data--anyone may post. As a visual learner, graphs & pictures tell me so much more than just words!

Hmmm...maybe I spend too much time on my phone & computer!

Mini Golf & Hole in One!

It must have been lucky I had not played mini golf in 10+ years. My roommate and I stopped after work last week to play mini golf. I got a hole-in-one and beat him by one stroke! I think he want's revenge. There is a batting cage, arcade, bumper boats as well at the Malibu Grand Prix. I think of all the "sports" there, mini golf is the only one I stand a chance!

January 1st...

January 1st...when we all turn over a new leaf, get a fresh start, and perhaps, make a resolution. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about resolutions, my life, my friends, my job, my goals. It seems we're the most critical of ourselves, and what needs to be changed. There are times I can't believe I just said "that." Or, how embarrassing, I can't believe I just did "that." Or, why didn't I just say "that" and get it off my chest? Whatever "that" is, I guess, means I am still growing, maturing, learning how to be me. And in the midst, I have to learn how to do this around everyone else, doing the same thing!

So, this year, I will:

Listen. Laugh. Hope. Keep. Talk. Cry. Be. Learn. Light. Go. Work. Breathe. Struggle. Hop. Bike. Cook. Love. Speak. Witness. Ask. Throw. Cherish. Write. Walk. Run. Leave. Swim. Lead. Sleep. Do. Find. Play. Give. Read. Watch. Type. Sing. Scream. Grow. Lift. Empower. Clean. Sail. Plan. Drink. Help. Question. Kiss. Follow. Spin. Create. Juggle. Soothe. Appoint. Revive. Snuggle. Turn. Mix. Tell. Embrace. Drive. Like. Nourish. Fly. Lose. Pedal. Promise. Share. Allow. Try. Build. Travel. Relax. Whistle. Knit. Delight. Draw. Break. Hold. Strive. Challenge. Step. Discuss. Hug. Yell. Buy. Gather. Purge. Stand. Record. Dance. Fix. Hear. Chose. Fill. Cook. Balance. Knock. Floss.

Plus many, many more...

Happy New Year!

Yesterday morning, I ran Rodeo Beach 20km trail run with friends. The weather was a little chilly (by SF standards) at the start, but the sky was clear and bright. The run was so much fun. It was a great way to end 2011 and welcome 2012!

Sunrise at Rodeo Beach