Tried, the other night, to get through the post i had earlier started (Book list). I couldn't. I am afraid it’ll end up like the post on Spain – premeditated, notes taken, photos diligently collected , 20 mins spent on organizing structure and so on …. but somehow will never get posted.

Instead, i spent a little time looking through some of my older posts – this is, believe it or not – my 7th calendar year on blogger – and i believe ive done about 6 as a regular.

Off late (in fact throughout 2009, i am afraid) i have been a boring SOB.

OK. We all know that i tend to go on and on about this. So without further time-waste, here goes…

Advise to self for 2010. (The Resolution list, one might call it)

• 1 post per week. No more. No less ?
• Tweet less, work more.
• Stop trying to act like this ‘overlypally-smart-witty-oodlesofsarcastichumor’ kind of guy in public. Nothing can be more far from the truth. And it shows. You normally (and quite rightly) end up being classified as the geek-troll next door.
• Lose 10 kilos. The last 5 will be extremely painful. But remember that it is worth the effort. Avoid the biscuit / kadalai mittai dabba. Like the plague.
• Stop thinking that you are in love. You aren't. The object of your attention does not care two hoots either. You are too lazy to put in effort, too egoistic & self centered to do anything drastic about it. And you’re as immature as ever. It is sad, but true.
• Become a creature of routine & habits & overall predictability in lifestyle, social behaviour.
• Learn to take pride in getting through regulation work. You now know that these are the most important and often the hardest chores to do up. Never fail to derive inspiration from people who have achieved great things over sustained, consistent common-minimum-level efforts – remember that it is something that you haven’t managed yet – and it might be something you wont ever manage.
• Do well at work. Remember that all the adulation, attention, love and happiness one seeks, one way or the other, depends on how well you do at work.
• Remember that knowledge, creativity, general energy and angst are best unleashed at work.
• No fake modesty. No self depreciation. No telephonic outpouring of angst. No personal emails longer than 2 paragraphs.
• Read your books, watch more theatre movies than emirates movies, go to bed at 11 and enjoy travel.
• Build up a professional reputation. Treat 2010 like one of those PREPARE FOR WORLD DOMINATION! – yelled-at-the-top-of-one’s-voice kind of years.

And yes, to quote Tyler cowen - Don't expect to be happy. It is counterproductive.