January 1, 2021

2021: Here We Go covid-19: day 284 | US: GA | info | act

Happy New Year! After 2020, I’m not as sanguine as I was last year at this time, but how could it be any worse, he said knowing it could. Let’s not tempt fate. I think my resolutions this year should include a look at how I did at last year’s.

Get back to mindfulness. This was a big bust. I’m not sure why, really. My first attempt at meditation was pretty successful, until I stopped. I’m not sure what happened. I think my propensity for impatience might have something to do with it. I also think not having my own space compounds the issue. I know: excuses excuses. Let’s try this again.

Continue to be healthy. Here, I’ve been more successful. I’ve taken off about 20 pounds since August and am back to running: I’ve not quite reached the 15 to 20 miles a week I used to do, but I am getting there. It’s remarkable how much 20 extra pounds weighs one down—I often struggled to run a mile-and-a-half. I have made definite progress here, and I think my drinking is down. I have to be diligent though: my inner fat guy is always waiting to get out. Maybe I should set a goal to run at least a half-marathon this year, maybe around my 52nd birthday? Let’s say this is a tentative resolution.

Make progress to eliminate debt. I feel better here. Even though I bought a motorcycle in 2020, I feel much better about that purchase than my last one. I have no credit card debt, and I make super payments to BMW. Once the bike is paid off, I’ll roll that money into the car, then tackle my last major debt: student loans. I should be clear of these by now, but, alas, they are like a chronic pestilence. Henry, if you’re reading this: never go into debt if you can avoid it. Debt is truly something that saps your soul and chips away at your freedom.

Continue to grow professionally. I’m fairly steady at this, though 2020 was challenging as far as scholarship goes. It feels like I spend way too much time teaching, and that trend is likely to continue into the foreseeable future.

Go somewhere. Yeah, well we all know about this. Still, I did manage to have a nice little trip on the bike. Kip and I have talked about a ride to Colorado at some point. Hopefully, we can make that happen. Autumn has talked about renting an RV to try out. I think that’s a great idea—I’d love to get out west.

We’ve been thinking of a slightly larger house, so we may try to make that happen this coming year, too. Being isolated for the pandemic has shown that our current house may be a bit too cozy for us—mostly me. The house we were interested in looks like it won’t happen, so we’re in limbo at the moment. I’m reluctant to put too much money into our current house, as we would not be likely to see a return.

I plan to continue to develop my renewed interest in photography and vintage lenses. So far, I’m having fun.

Also, I really needs to read more. I’m going to try for 40 books this year. I’m a slow reader, but 40 should be within reach. Most of these will certainly be novels. I better get started. (My issue is not reading, but the time it takes me to choose my next book. I’m at a point in my life where I feel I need to be deliberate: I just can’t read everything as I only have a finite time left. I remember when I was younger, I looked to the future and all the books I would read. Well there is still a future, but it is significantly smaller than it was. I need to choose carefully, but not waste time in choosing. Maybe I need a prioritized list?)

Well, here we go.