New Year’s Resolutions Update
I made a series of New Year’s Resolutions, and I intend to update on my progress at least once a month or so. So, let’s take a look at the resolutions:
In 2009, I resolve to:
1. Become a better person - “me”, father, husband, community member - as best I can.
2. Get more involved in Ankylosing Spondylitis Survivor advocacy, fundraising, and raising public awareness.
3. Become as fit as possible. This will be difficult because of the pain factor, but losing a few pounds and moving around a bit will overall be better for me.
4. Quit smoking. I will use a nicotine patch, or maybe try the new losenges. In any case, I know I must quit smoking for all kinds of reasons
5. Complete Apple’s Final Cut Pro Certifications by the end of July, 2009.
6. Try and make a friend or two I can escape the house with, or at least have a meaningful conversation with in email or by phone a couple of times a week (more than “how’ve you been?”).
7. Take a proper family vacation in the summer of 2009.
8. Read at least 3 literary classics during 2009.
9. Write more on this blog, and other writing methods.
So, #1 is a constant effort, and #2 is moving very slowly. Unfortunately, I have to wait on other people.
#3 Not progressing as I’d hoped. Between nausea side effects from my medications, and pain still being a barrier, even when I add medical marijuana into the mix.
#4 We’re on day #27…been tempted a few times, and a quick puff on pipe tobacco (in a pipe, of course!), or from a Colt cigar, got me through the worst of it. I used the patches for the first
#5 Still working away on it. Have video of all of Cheyenne’s basketball games this season (she took her team’s first shot of the year in a game, and it also was the first 2 points of the team’s year :)) and that gives me something to work with besides the video provided with the self study courses.
#6 Can’t say I’m there yet.
#7 Working on this one — we’re looking at renting a cabin somewhere along to the Okanagan valley in British Columbia.
#8 I’ve started Tolstoy’s original version of War and Peace. I’ve heard many jokes over the years about the size of this book, of course…and they do it justice, the tome is HUGE. Tolstoy apparently would write and rewrite, write and rewrite again, until he was happy with his work — even after the original edition was published, he kept making notes and rewrites for the next printing.
#9 Well, I haven’t let a whole month go by between updates, that’s a start. :) I’ve also been doing some writing in other places - forums, wiki’s, and so on.
So, I obviously can’t quit, but so far, I can safely pick out #1, #2, #4, #5, #7, #8 and #9 all right on track, with plans to work on #3.
So far, so good!
Kevin Shubert is married with 2 children, enjoyed an IT Management Career spanning over 3 decades, lived in Costa Rica for almost 3 years, and is an Ankylosing Spondylitis "Survivor". For more about Kevin, his family, and his philosophy, visit the About This Site section.
