I stopped making New Year's resolutions when I was kid, realizing at an early age talk was cheap. As years went by, I was far too cool to do anything as clearly lame and contrived. For the first time in a long time, however, I find myself revisiting the idea.
What's so lame about having goals? Why is it contrived to start a new year with hope and a plan to do something better or different? Even if it is lame and contrived, I graduated high school in 1992. My ambition should have advanced beyond trying to get a seat at the cool kids' table two decades ago.
It's January 1, 2010. Happy New Year and welcome to it. I'm hitting the reset button and- well, maybe not starting over but I'm ready to begin again.
Resolution #1: 365 VCV Entries
Verse Chorus Verse was born on August 10, 2009. Since starting the series, I've successfully written about one song most days. There were a few times I wrote about two songs in a single day. Sadly there were a fistful of days I had nothing. My #1 goal for 2010 is 365 Verse Chorus Verse entries, preferable one entry every day. We've taken one small step in that direction today. I'm encouraged when I look at how many days since August I did write versus the number of days I didn't. This goal is ambitious but I'm resolved to make it happen. Today we take one small step in that direction.
Resolution #2: 50 Books
I spend way too much time sitting around doing nothing. It's good to take time for rest and relaxation but I'd like to draw a line and cut down on the amount of time I waste. Not only that, but I'd like to spend more time reading. If I had my way, I'd be ridiculously and independently wealthy and the time it takes to read more could come directly out of my time spent working rather than my wasted time. In a bit of foreshadowing, none of my resolutions are likely to put me on the path to sudden wealth, so we're going to have to make the reallocations that are most realistic.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
the reading goal is a noble & smart one. a book per week? that's a tough one. maybe every two weeks...but i'm a slow reader.
i don't usually make resolutions either, but i've started out with the simple goal of not reading or commenting on politics on the internet. no matter how much you say to a box of hammers, it's still a box of hammers. a total waste of time.
2 - fcetier
Congrats Josh! Looking forward to your VCV articles.
3 - Josh Hathaway
I've put a pretty ambitious goal in front of myself on the reading front, no question. I might have exceeded my ability but I wanted something big like that. I'll keep score and see how far I get. I'm not convinced it can't be done. Your goal is also smart and noble. Your blood pressure and general enjoyment of life will improve when you walk away from the trolls and nonsense.
Thanks, fcetier. I'm looking forward to writing them.
4 - Mat Brewster
I set the 50 books goal for myself last year. I think I made it to 36. Maybe I'll make it this year.
5 - Newark
This song, as conceived and as first recorded, is deceptively simple. It consists of a short intro on piano, two verses, a chorus, a third verse, and a repeat of the chorus, followed by a brief 'playout' which is more or less a recap of the intro, turned to close on the tonic chord