Most birthdays evoke a delicate balance of nostalgia and forward-thinking: how would I rate the last year and what are my goals for this year? It’s time for personal New Year’s Resolutions, and with a milestone birthday (like 25), there is additional enthusiasm in goal-setting. That being said, and for the good of no one but myself, I’m writing down twenty-five goals for between now and November 24, 2009.
- Write. It doesn’t have to be Shakespeare and it doesn’t have to be online, but it has to be often and it has to be thoughtful.
- Read. Caveat: the reading must be from a book (assuming I can locate examples of such an archaic technology).
- Learn to cook more than spaghetti, ham and cheese, and frozen pizzas.
- Be healthy (or maybe just healthier).
- Lose 10 pounds.
- Run a marathon. Team in Training: Vancouver Marathon 2009.
- Be thankful … especially for the things that are easily taken for granted like family, friends and a good job.
- Invest in relationships.
- Say “Thank you” and mean it. Often.
- Give. Set aside money to give.
- Give. Set aside time to give.
- Save. Set monetary goals for saving and meet them.
- Go above and beyond the call of duty.
- Improve on guitar … preferably enough to justify owning several ridiculously nice guitars.
- Write a song and sing it for people.
- Talk to strangers, especially on elevators and while waiting in lines.
- Give a public presentation: minimum 50 people in the audience.
- Make eye contact with people.
- Be active. Do something athletic every day.
- Travel enough to reach frequent flier status.
- Learn to differentiate various types of wine by taste.
- Surprise people (pleasantly).
- Go on adventures.
- Listen.
- Laugh.
