Resolved 2008

Last year was the first in a while where I set no specific goals for myself in the new year. Maybe it is because I was tired of batting slightly better than .500. Or maybe I wanted to see what a goal-less year would be like. (Answer: not great.)

In past years I laid them out (2005, 2006), reviewed them midway (2005), and then gave a final assessment (2005, 2006).

This year I’m getting back to it. Shall we place bets?

1. Simplify.
   Instead of doing ten things at once, do four. For all aspects of my life.
2. Moderate.
   Related to above, but in quantity not complexity.
3. Start to write a book.
   Been researching it for six months now (or is it all my life?). Time to get back to the word.
4. Make more music.
   This one looks promising. There’ll be an announcement soon …
5. Get back into distance running.
   Why? Because it is the simplest, cheapest way to exercise.
6. Not travel as much.
   See point one. See also my family. See also my sanity.
7. Visit Tibet.
   Wha?! I thought you said … Well, I know I’m going to China at least once this year, possibly for the last time in a while. Might as well make it worth it. (And by worth it, I mean riding the Permafrost Express to Lhasa!)
8. Figure out what I want to be when I grow up.
   I’m open to suggestions.
9. Learn to be ok with doing nothing/being still.
   OK, enough of that. Let’s move to the next thing,
10. Visit more of the neighborhoods of Chicago.
    This requires more than just idly ambling around the city which would be inefficient and possibly dangerous. It requires a plan. I have a plan.
11. Read more books.
    You know, books. Spine-bound, pulp-paged tomes.
12. Eat more slowly.
    What occurred to me is that if you can’t recall what something tasted like five minutes after you’ve eaten it, it is time to eat slower. (Or find tastier food, I suppose.)

Begin.