hard work needs to be done
2008 wasn’t a very good year in itself but it will be remembered as a turning point, both personally and globally.
A world in the grip of financial crisis driven by excessive greed caught in a vicious ouroboros-like cycle balanced out by the world’s number two economy electing a man who a little over a hundred years prior would have been only considered suitable as a slave.
These, my friends, are interesting times and we proceed into these uncharted waters without a compass.
It remains to be seen if Obama can do anything for the US and whether the US can do anything to stem the bloody flow of the world’s markets, but there’s one thing that I know I can do while all that’s happening and it’s not what I did this year - sitting on my ass and letting things happen.
I’ll briefly refer to an earlier post I made on resolutions at the start of 2008 but mostly I want to talk about my own view of the year.
I stagnated, physically, personally, professionally, and possibly even emotionally. Procrastination is probably my number one weakness, the resolutions list will make that clear, and it isn’t improving with age like a fine wine. I’m now in a position where I need to clearly re-evaluate my priorities and put them into action.
A lot of loss, appetite, friends, interests … and goals. No longer. What’s lost is lost and if it comes back to me through the course of my pursuits, so be it - if it doesn’t, then it wasn’t meant to. The time has come to shake off the cobwebs and put to rest old ghosts, break some new ground and truly begin to look forward to what life has in store and what I need to do in order to get there, not just how I’ll manage to cruise by it on the road of life.
My failed resolutions for 2008
1. Find inspiration everywhere
Not necessarily failed, as I continue to take pleasure in many simple things in life but I haven’t utilised it to its potential. Every morning my daughter’s smiling face provides me with fresh enthusiasm as a parent, I need to find that sort of energy for the rest of my pursuits.
2. Learn more about cooking / Culinary school / “Stahge” in a kitchen
Didn’t develop much beyond my afternoon at II, although I continue to make reasonably good foodie food for an amateur. I still adore food and wine and will continue to experiment. I have started making great thin crust pizzas in addition to my steaks!
3. Stop playing online poker
Let’s not talk about this one. At all. I am done, again.
4. Read at least one book a month
I read one book on screenplays. I want to read more of them.
5. Produce at least one page of writing per week
Not sure if I wrote enough in concentrated bursts this year to cover 350 odd pages but the entire latter half of the year was entirely fiction-free to my chagrin.
6. Watch less TV
This actually happened sort of organically. Despite splashing out on a big home entertainment system, I’ve watched less TV and more movies which is a good thing. I don’t have The Wire to watch yet and I’m nearly done with what I am watching, so I’ll be taking a break from TV land again very soon.
7. Cook less rich/fatty/creamy foods
Not enough of this going on, though we have started eating a lot more meat + veg / salad type combos which is a good mix.
8. Gain a stone or two in muscle
Nada. Zip. Literally zero exercise, outside of a few “activities”.
Disappointing eh?
Well, my Goals for 2009 look something like this:
Health
- Wake up earlier, get to bed earlier
- Jog at least twice a week
- Exercise with weights at least twice a week
- Swim as often as the weather allows
- Moderate my alcohol consumption (rare blowouts excepted)
- Minimise fattier foodstuffs to twice a week
Family
- Minimise computer time at weekends
- Family walk or outing at least once a weekend (chores permitting)
- Find time for Clare and I to get out
- Support my wife and child with a positive outlook and loving attitude
- Talk to Evelyn constantly
Hobby
- Write two screenplays, first the Aussie one, then Cloverfield at Sea
- Do a cooking class, preferably something French/Italian/Seafood-based
- Put in a good session at the casino once every two months (I’m making money at it, so why not?), never play online poker again
- Not through choice and spurred on by Clare’s cheeky xmas gift of Dummies guide to DIY, I’ll need to fashion myself as some kind of Mr Fix-It
- Keep my restaurant reviews up to date
Professionally
- Develop myself into a role or find one that suits
- Earn as close to the “ton” mark by the end of the year
Other than that? Well, that’s enough to keep me busy - the rest I’ll take in my stride. Speaking of stride, I bought a Walkman mp3 player today and with my new trainers, no excuses not to get started with jogging tomorrow.
Every day, one step at a time.
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January 6th, 2009 at 4:49 am
“The time has come to shake off the cobwebs and put to rest old ghosts, break some new ground and truly begin to look forward”
Exactly.
That’s what my own “vague” post was about. For me 2008 was the first year where I finally actually looked back to my past and said, “Fuck off, I’m going the other way!”.
And I fully intend to keep going.
January 17th, 2009 at 12:33 am
Yeah, 08 was a pretty grueling experience for me. I’m still trying to come up with an adequate way of summing it up for my blog, but in the end I’m viewing it as a period of violent growing pains from which I can attain a successful 09.
So far so good on that front, 09 is treating me well.