a day late, a dollar short, but moving forward all the same
Hello there, internet world! It's already been a while since I last posted something, largely because I have spent the last six days in the throes of 3 migraines and their aftermath. Right now I'm still dizzy from the last one, but doing much better than previously, and so I am choosing to persevere.
There are a few different bits and pieces of things going on that I intend to talk about over the next little while, but first on that list is a slightly-belated discussion of new year's resolutions. Like so many others at the start of every year, I like to take stock of the year just past and to set a few goals for the year ahead. I generally strive to keep it to just a few items rather than a long "laundry list," and I also try to focus on things that have the potential to lead to larger change or to growth and development of some type.
Last year, I made five new year's resolutions, plus an additional three during the midyear. I ended up achieving six of the eight, or two-thirds overall success, which isn't bad at all, I think.
(Items not achieved by the end of 2012: completion of my doctorate and climbing a fourteener. However, I'm close enough to both that they're now on my general "to-do" list instead of my list of resolutions.)
This year, I've once again selected five things to pursue.
Aspen's New Year's Resolutions for 2013
Item #1: the half-marathon.
I found out previously that I enjoy running, and it turns out to be an excellent way for me to both stay in shape and reduce stress - both of which are of pretty critical importance to me right now. In the past I've successfully completed a four-kilometer casual training course, a 5k race, and a 5k obstacle course, which means it's time to set my sights higher. A half-marathon is the rough equivalent of three 5ks, and doing one will also help me to break through the training plateau that I hit in terms of "what the heck does one do for hydration and energy when distance running?" I have a close friend who's already committed to one in May, and I've spotted another possible race in June -- one which comes with a free training effort for participants, who will then be fundraising for a worthy cause. Both of these races allow walkers as well as runners, which means that I can focus my training on improving distance first and pace second, which I think will be something I enjoy.
Item #2: original fiction.
I hinted very vaguely at this in a post last year (vaguely enough that only one person spotted it and got in touch to ask about it), but this is something that I have wanted to do for quite some time. In fact, I have rough outlines drafted for four projects, three of which could be expanded into something more if circumstances warrant. Until now, I've never taken that final step -- but inspiration by friends of mine, my own experiences with serial storytelling in Milliways, and my quiet collaboration with a professional writer on a spec script for a TV series have finally given me the confidence to make the leap. As part of this and in order to help me establish daily writing habits, I joined Get Your Words Out this year, and I'm optimistic about what it'll all bring.
(For those of you who are wondering "how'd I miss that," no, I never mentioned the TV script here before, and I likely won't be mentioning it again, since the odds of anything coming to fruition there are astronomically low. :) So really, you didn't miss anything!)
Item #3: volunteering.
I miss volunteering, and I am becoming increasingly restless without it and increasingly aware of growing need in areas where I think I might be able to be of at least some small amount of help. I also think that once I finish my doctorate, I may have a little more time on a regular basis to do work like this, and so I've added this resolution to the list.
Item #4: increased socializing.
In recent years, I've allowed myself to dig head-down into books and work and choir and established habits and not really to expand beyond that. I'd like to broaden my horizons a bit. I may be balanced on the edge of introversion and extroversion, but meeting new people can be fun sometimes, and I'd like to do more of that. This one may end up going hand in hand with either #1 or #3 above, and that's perfectly fine.
Item #5: no falling on pie.
This one's been on the list since a promise made to
varadia in 2008, and I still don't plan on changing it any time soon. :)
That's quite enough for one year, I think! Now, let's see what 2013 brings, shall we?
For historical comparison:
This entry was originally posted at http://silveraspen.dreamwidth.org/289363.html and mirrored to LJ. Please comment where you wish! (There are
comments currently posted at Dreamwidth.)
There are a few different bits and pieces of things going on that I intend to talk about over the next little while, but first on that list is a slightly-belated discussion of new year's resolutions. Like so many others at the start of every year, I like to take stock of the year just past and to set a few goals for the year ahead. I generally strive to keep it to just a few items rather than a long "laundry list," and I also try to focus on things that have the potential to lead to larger change or to growth and development of some type.
Last year, I made five new year's resolutions, plus an additional three during the midyear. I ended up achieving six of the eight, or two-thirds overall success, which isn't bad at all, I think.
(Items not achieved by the end of 2012: completion of my doctorate and climbing a fourteener. However, I'm close enough to both that they're now on my general "to-do" list instead of my list of resolutions.)
This year, I've once again selected five things to pursue.
Aspen's New Year's Resolutions for 2013
- I will complete a half-marathon.
- I will complete and submit at least one original piece of fiction.
- I will join and actively participate in at least one volunteer endeavor.
- I will join and actively participate in at least one new social group.
- I will not fall on pie.
Item #1: the half-marathon.
I found out previously that I enjoy running, and it turns out to be an excellent way for me to both stay in shape and reduce stress - both of which are of pretty critical importance to me right now. In the past I've successfully completed a four-kilometer casual training course, a 5k race, and a 5k obstacle course, which means it's time to set my sights higher. A half-marathon is the rough equivalent of three 5ks, and doing one will also help me to break through the training plateau that I hit in terms of "what the heck does one do for hydration and energy when distance running?" I have a close friend who's already committed to one in May, and I've spotted another possible race in June -- one which comes with a free training effort for participants, who will then be fundraising for a worthy cause. Both of these races allow walkers as well as runners, which means that I can focus my training on improving distance first and pace second, which I think will be something I enjoy.
Item #2: original fiction.
I hinted very vaguely at this in a post last year (vaguely enough that only one person spotted it and got in touch to ask about it), but this is something that I have wanted to do for quite some time. In fact, I have rough outlines drafted for four projects, three of which could be expanded into something more if circumstances warrant. Until now, I've never taken that final step -- but inspiration by friends of mine, my own experiences with serial storytelling in Milliways, and my quiet collaboration with a professional writer on a spec script for a TV series have finally given me the confidence to make the leap. As part of this and in order to help me establish daily writing habits, I joined Get Your Words Out this year, and I'm optimistic about what it'll all bring.
(For those of you who are wondering "how'd I miss that," no, I never mentioned the TV script here before, and I likely won't be mentioning it again, since the odds of anything coming to fruition there are astronomically low. :) So really, you didn't miss anything!)
Item #3: volunteering.
I miss volunteering, and I am becoming increasingly restless without it and increasingly aware of growing need in areas where I think I might be able to be of at least some small amount of help. I also think that once I finish my doctorate, I may have a little more time on a regular basis to do work like this, and so I've added this resolution to the list.
Item #4: increased socializing.
In recent years, I've allowed myself to dig head-down into books and work and choir and established habits and not really to expand beyond that. I'd like to broaden my horizons a bit. I may be balanced on the edge of introversion and extroversion, but meeting new people can be fun sometimes, and I'd like to do more of that. This one may end up going hand in hand with either #1 or #3 above, and that's perfectly fine.
Item #5: no falling on pie.
This one's been on the list since a promise made to
varadia in 2008, and I still don't plan on changing it any time soon. :)
That's quite enough for one year, I think! Now, let's see what 2013 brings, shall we?
For historical comparison:
- 2012 resolutions.
- 2011 resolutions.
- 2010 resolutions.
- 2009 resolutions - none on file.
- 2008 resolutions.
This entry was originally posted at http://silveraspen.dreamwidth.org/289363.html and mirrored to LJ. Please comment where you wish! (There are
comments currently posted at Dreamwidth.)