New Year's in Barcelona, Spain

CHALLENGE  ACCOMPLISHMENT # 1

THE RESOLUTION: Something New

January 1st, 2013

Perhaps the most suitable beginning for this challenge, completing the first of the 169 resolutions set forth by ThirteenSquared at the strike of midnight as we welcomed 2013. This holiday season marks my first Christmas and New Years in Europe. My sister and I were lucky enough to have our mom move across the ocean because now we get to come visit! In the spirit of this big change we tried to sample some of the local holiday customs, including cooking traditional dinner for the 24th. We did NOT though, wait until January 6th to open our presents; that's just crazy! Do you know how many extra days of waiting that is?! :O But this story is not about that, mainly because there was no such thing as ThirteenSquared until the big tower clock struck midnight and the 3 of us found ourselves standing amongst thousands of revellers at the famed Plaza Cataluña.

My excitement for a thrilling December 31st bash had been promptly crushed a few days earlier when locals recounted how bringing in the New Year in Barcelona... is strictly a family affair! No wild parties! No getting wasted and breaking every resolution you made in just the first hours of the new year! No fireworks! No... celebration. We simply could not let this be. Neither did every other tourist, exchange student or global immigrant in that city.

The masses gathered and moved in the large square of the old city bringing dozens of languages, cultures and nationalities together into the dark and chilly night. In the medley of colours some of us held on to a handful of grapes, traditionally eaten by Spaniards at the height of the celebration. Many more held their beer or wine in plastic cups having been stripped of all bottles/cans at police checkpoints near the square. Large groups of young men threw fireworks into the crowds garnering cheers and clapping from those not angered by the proximity of the unexpected explosions.
The general air of the evening was a pressing and drawn out feeling of expectation. But nothing happened. There was no lights. No kissing couples. There wasn't even a countdown. Twelve o'clock came and went without notice, and still nothing happened.

The Boulder Ripples

THE RESOLUTION: Cook/Bake something new
CHALLENGE  ACCOMPLISHMENT # 1

BONUS:
THE RESOLUTION: Meaningful get togethers
CHALLENGE  ACCOMPLISHMENT # 3

The concept of cooking has long been one that defied me. The years I lived on my own even conceived great friendships between myself and the frozen food aisle. In fact, the long standing joke for my relationship with cooking has boiled down to this: "I burn water."

In the spirit of ThirteenSquared I confess that my lack of cooking skills is really nothing more than a reflection of my lack of patience and enthusiasm for immediate gratification. That's really not to say that frozen, pre-made fat and preservative-laden meals are overly gratifying but it's ready to eat 5 minutes after my stomach screams 'feed me' for the 10th time that evening. I really have tried to cook before. That's how I ended up 'burning water':
      Step 1 Boil water for pasta
      Step 2 Eat a bowl of cereal while water boils
      Step 3 Completely forget about water until the smell of burning pot fills apartment

April recently made this comment about me with regards to creating ThirteenSquared for my resolution:

      "Some throw a rock into a pond and then stand back to watch the ripples.
       YOU ... throw a boulder!"

The princesses and the salt cave

                                                   *Relaxing on the lawn chairs in the cave

                                                   

THE RESOLUTION: Try Something New
CHALLENGE  ACCOMPLISHMENT # 4

It's new and it's healthy! :)

The Dead Sea is basically a lake at 67X18km at its widest points, but with a 33.7% salinity level swimming here feels more like floating. Apart from being a major tourist attraction, the Dead Sea (located on the border between Israel and Jordan) is major industry for the mineral rich salts that are mined here. But I did not go there. No, the Dead Sea came to me in the form of a salt cave... ok fine it was a room in a spa... and this is how it went:

My mom, sister and I arrived at a small shop in Barcelona, Spain. We were asked to take our shoes and socks off and put on some slippers but otherwise you just go in your regular clothes. A door in an otherwise unremarkable hallway opened to a dark room. Its floor, walls and even the roof were completely covered in salt. The ground was like a pebbled beach. The walls held larger salt boulders, some lit from behind giving off calm glow the colour of the sun. Small Christmas light glittered stars in the sky alternating in greens, blues and purples above us, peeking out from within the rock stones being held to beams above by netting. Three lawn chairs covered in blankets stood alone in the room. We took our places and the hosts covered with more blankets before gently closing the door to let us relax, breathing in therapy.

Of course, we are not exactly talking about 3 mellow chicks here. For the entirety of the 45 minute relax session we cracked jokes about everything and anything that came to mind. We took pictures (for this blog entry) and basically entertained ourselves quite wholesomely without a quiet moment until our hosts returned for the climax of the evening: 15 minute massage!

It was more like someone petting my face! But that's not the point here. :D

So why do people this? Well these salts are supposed to have many health benefits and healing properties for your skin and respiratory tract. Some even claim they will make you 'skinny'. Whatever it really does, this new experience really proved that laughter is the best medicine.

One woman. One year. Four down. 165 to go. 

*I am not advertising for anyone here so if you want more information or want to get your hands on some salt try doing some research just like I did.

*My sister licks the wall. You know, to make sure its really salt! :P

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One hundred and what?!

As the messages of support and encouragement began to come in, they brought with them such exhilaration and drive in me. My project is coming to life and the call I've put out has been answered. But the positivity is often accompanied by exclamations of taking on such a monumental task. These resolutions are all aids to a fuller and happier life and doing even just a few of these challenges would improve our world. So am I really taking on too much of a good thing?
Inspiration turned to fretting. What if I have taken on too much? What if attempting ThirteenSquared will only bring further stress to my life? What if I fail in front of the entire blogosphere? What if...?
Those two words may in fact be some of the most powerful in the whole of the English language. When put together, they produce fear enough to reduce even the most capable and confident into someone who would rather sit within their comfortable bubble. Someone who would settle, someone who would simply accept what is placed in front of them, anything to not risk having to complete that sentence. I can be guilty of that very thing numerous times in a single day.
Yes, my task is great. ThirteenSquared, that's one-hundred and sixty-nine resolution to complete in a single year. 169!!! One-hundred and sixty-nine opportunities to laugh and bring joy to those around me. One-hundred and sixty-nine challenge formatted ways to bring order and fulfilment to my own life. And one-hundred and sixty-nine moments where I get to defeat the "what if...?" fear and find out what really happens on the other side of courage.

One woman. One year. 169 resolutions.