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A short guide to happiness – 13 goals for 2013
48At one time I had stuff like this. Resolutions how I should be, could be, would be. Or big plans. For the long haul. Job stuff and this. If you would ask me now where I see myself in five years, I could only stare in the clouds and count birds but I have no answer. I don’t even know what will be in one year from now. Things always turn out different. And never the way you expected. And as long as things are like this, I don’t make big plans for some time or another. Cause some time is some time. Or another. But not now. And the thing with changing oneself and resolutions, I’ve learnt that a while ago, is not done with thoughts about changes on the last day of the year, which you will have forgotten by the first day of the next year. Why should you do stuff you don’t like, which only make you feel guilty, until you finally stop thinking about it? You are like you are. And there is a point in that.
picture by the wondermarvelous Nina of Smaracuja.de
It’s way better to tell yourself to do stuff, which will make you happy. What you would like to do. What will make you so much you, that you spew soda out your nose just because you are so happy.
These are my 13 goals for 2013. And I hope they will make me happy.
1. Go to Scotland. Take your brother with you. Walk in the rain until you’re completely soaked.
2. Learn something new. How to whistle on two fingers for example. Or how to open a bottle with a lighter. Or scuba diving.
3. Go to Brandenburg more often. It’s beautiful.
Yes, Brandenburg is no-man’s-land. But beautiful no-man’s-land.
4. Drink vodka in the Trans-Siberian Railway. (Best would be to drink an old Russian man under the table)
5. Research if a container ship is the only way to get to Pitcairn. If so, start planning your trip.
6. Go find Santa Claus in Lapland. Ask him what he wants for Christmas. At a pinch a shopping mall in New York City will do. But only go for the real one.
7. See Blur live in concert. (Or U2)
8. Do more things which made you happy when you were young. Play circus, build a blanket fort. Play games. Ride on a carousel.
9. Go to Cuba again. Drink more Mojito than last time.
10. See a lion. In Africa.
11. Travel to Iceland. Check if it’s raining there more often than in Scotland.
12. Give away half of the stuff you own. You don’t need all this things.
13. Invent beaming. Or find someone who can. Tell him all the stuff you thought about during the last years with the boxes and the numbers and the opening hours (long story).
The wonderfully Nina and Frankie already have their 13 goals for 2013. What about you? What would make you happy in 2013?
Was ich zum Glücklichsein brauche ist 2013 dasselbe wie 2012 und die Jahre davor: Meine Frau Sonja, meine Familie und ein paar gute Freunde. Ansonsten gehe ich mit dir d’accor: Schau mer mal was kommt.
Gute Freunde und Familie sind definitiv wichtig zum Glücklichsein! Und der Rest kommt dann von alleine
Transib bin ich dabei
Deal!
Musst aber auch ins Vodkatrainingslager davor 
Haha, what a great post! Made me laugh. Good tips though, people should really enjoy their lives more.
And I definitely want to see a lion. In Africa!
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough! To quote Mae West
And I hope I get to see a lion on my trip to Southafrica in February!!
“Die einen so sehr ich machen, dass einem vor lauter Glück die Brause aus der Nase läuft. ” … das mag ich
Ja, ich auch.
xx
Mach den Tauchkurs! Als ich meinen Schein gemacht hab, habe ich mich geärgert den nicht schon viel früher gemacht zu haben und soviel Unterwasserwelt bei früheren Reisen verpasst zu haben.
JAAA! Ich hab das irgendwie schon ewig vor weil ich Schnorcheln auch so gerne mag. Dieses Jahr ist ein Tauchkurs fällig!!!
Toll, durch den Regen laufen in Schottland – auch ganz weit oben in meiner Glück-finden-Skala
Auch wenn es wohl im 2013 nicht ganz für Schottland reichen wird, werd ich als Kompensation einige Guinness in Dublin trinken 
Barfuss laufen tue ich schon, Löwen sehen habe ich schon und das Afrika Fieber dazu, Kind bleibe ich sowie so … mit Skatern durch Ägypten rollen habe ich schon …
Aber genau die Punkte hast wunderbar aufgezählt …. mehr die Momente geniessen und einfach Leben!
Liebe Grüsse sendet Dir Dani
Uh, mit Skatern durch Ägypten rollen hört sich toll an!
Wird auf die Liste gesetzt!
Ich bring dir bei wie man mit dem Feuerzeug Bierflaschen aufmacht. In Island.
diese challange mit den bierflaschenöffnen könnten wir noch ausbauen:
http://youtu.be/iLX4G-JL-0E
Ich wette die Isländer können sogar mit Gammelrochen Bierflaschen aufmachen.
TOP! Dabei!
haha. wie lustig! Großartigst!
Endlich mal sinnvolle “vorsätze”
wünsche viel efolg. wenn du hilfe brauchst, gib bescheid.
beste grüße!
Ja, Stichwort Vodkatrainingslager
This is a brilliant list! I especially like: 8. Do more things which made you happy when you were young. Play circus, build a blanket fort. Play games. Ride on a carousel.
This past summer, I rode on a Ferris Wheel for the first time in decades. It was such a wonderful and freeing thing to do (that’s the photo for my avatar). I can’t wait to do it again!!
I would be happy in 2013 if I didn’t worry so much about things I can’t change…and really happy if I get to do more things that made me happy when I was young
Ferris Wheels are fun! Don’t worry about stuff you can’t change, invest this time in stuff that make you happy
Love #8 as well – I’ve been thinking a lot lately of all the things I used to do that I really enjoyed when I was younger and trying to figure out why I stopped/how I can add them back into my life. When you’re little you can take joy in the silliest things and pursue any interests you want with encouragement and no judging…that changes as you get older but it shouldn’t have to…
Nope, we just have to listen to the child in us. Hey, my inner child wants to dress up like a princess today… hmm, let me check my closet
Great goals for the new year! One of mine is to visit Cuba as well, but I’m not sure this is the year. Oh, and I’ve seen U2 live…do it before they retire:)
Cuba is amazing! One of my favourite places in the world! And yes, yes, yes U2!!!!
Cool post – I finally managed to open bottles with a lighter just about a month ago – after my sister has been trying to teach me this essential trick for about 15 years… Guess the whistling on two fingers has to come next:)! But it’s true, it’s all these little, seemingly not very important things, that make life good – so thanks for the reminder!
Ah, so many people tried to teach me how to open bottles with a lighter. Hope I get it this year
The little things are sometimes the most important ones!
love number 8 and 12 is a challenge
seein a lion or a pride of lions is just awesome
Ja, really really hope I will see a lion on my trip to Southafrica in February!!! And yes, number 12 is a challenge
Fun goals! I’ve spent two weeks in Iceland and in my experience, it rains far more here in Italy than it does in Iceland.
Really? More rain in Italy? I need to check that on my own
Iceland must be amazing 
Nice goals and so uplifting. I’ve seen U2 in concert and they’re fabulous. Haven’t seen Blur but would love to. One of our biggest regret of the Mongol Rally was not hopping on the Trans Siberian to get back to the UK. Why didn’t we do that? Instead we bought a plane ticket home while we were still in Kazakhstan and then by the time we thought of it when in Ulaanbaatar we had already spent the money to go home. I hope to get on the Transiberian soon too. Happy 2013!
Blur is playing at Berlin Festival at the abandoned airport Tempelhof in September
wanna come? 
I’ve been reading 2013 goal posts today, pondering and enjoying them. I hope you can accomplish the whole list or have a laugh trying.;)
Thanks Sonya, I hope so too!
ha ha good luck with drinking a russian man under the table
Haha, thanks Ally. I will try my best
That’s a great list of goals, though opening a bottle with a lighter is tough, I still can’t master it! And you’re right, we should be less concerned about what we should be doing and concentrate a bit more on what makes us happy!
Thanks Lilian. And yes, opening a bottle with a lighter is really tough. Trying to master this since over 15 years…
Eine Fahrt nach Cuxhaven muß dabei sein!
haha. Mal schaun…
Ich hab mit 4 Fingern zu Pfeifen gelernt. Kannst du das schon? Flasche mit Feuerzeug aufmachen – verlernt.
Punkt 4+ 9 bin ich dabei
Bei 10 habe ich Angst, aber wenn du auch Angst hast, haben wir halt gemeinsam Angst. Vielleicht ergibt 1+1 gleich 0, sprich keine Angst. 
Danke für die Liste.
haha, DAS WÜRDE ICH AUCH GERNE KÖNNEN! Und den Löwen kann ich von der Liste schon abhaken. Und ja, ich hatte Schiss. Man is aber auch verdammt nah dran an den Viechern!