My New Year’s Resolutions
by Edwin L. Young, PhD
December 31, 2009

·        Learning to appreciate what a tremendous variety there is in geophysical characteristics around the earth and under its waters.

·        Learning to appreciate what a tremendous variety there is in structures and systems of the world.

·        Learning to appreciate what a tremendous variety there is in life sustaining and living conditions among peoples of the world.

·        Learning to appreciate what a tremendous variety there is in cultures.

·        Learning to appreciate what a tremendous variety there is in cities.

·        Learning to appreciate what a tremendous variety there is in educational, judicial, religious, political, medical, recreational, communicational, and economic institutions.

·        Learning to appreciate what a tremendous variety there is in neighborhoods.

·        Learning to appreciate what a tremendous variety there is in families.

·        Learning to appreciate what a tremendous variety there is in the levels and types of intelligence among the peoples of the world.

·        Learning to appreciate what a tremendous variety there is in personality characteristics and their behavioral expression among peoples of the world.

·        Learning to appreciate what a tremendous variety there is in dyadic behavior when people from different backgrounds interact in different circumstances.

·        Learning to appreciate what a tremendous variety there is in people’s inner worlds.

·        Learning to appreciate how all of the above have evolved over billions of years in the history of the earth and its entire species.

·        Learning to appreciate what a tremendous variety there is in how the multitudes of peoples on the earth envision the future.

·        Learning to appreciate that culture is founded on deception.

·        Resolving to strive for authenticity in spite of human’s universal tendency to deceive.

·        Resolving to relate and communicate with fellow humans with empathy and without judging or prejudging.

·        Learning to accept reality with equanimity and yet to be devoted to reversing harmful trends and, with humble appreciation of my limitations,  to making improvements wherever it is possible for me to do so.

Please share with whomever you wish.