All this New Year’s resolutions talk is making me tired just thinking about it! As usual, I’ve got some random thoughts on the subject bouncing around in my head, and none of it seems to fit coherently into a “wow” blog post. You’ll have to settle for a “meh” blog post.
I went back to see what I wrote when 2013 still had that new year smell. I said that I wanted it to be a year of doing things that I DON’T want to do. I think I did a decent job with that, although it could have been better. I’ve worked out regularly, and I have improved my dental hygiene! I don’t think I’ve improved as much as I’d like to in addressing tough situations (especially conflict) as quickly as possible. But it’s something I’m constantly working on. I worked to address some nagging health issues during the past year, which is a plus for me. I tend to be like Dad when it comes to the medical establishment.
So what’s on the docket for 2014? I’ve had that on the back burner since you guys kicked out your forecast about three minutes after the ball dropped. My goals seem to be a little nebulous. They’re not SMART goals. And yes, some of it probably seems like cheese, but I’ll share anyway.
As funny and entertaining (sometimes) that my rants might be, I’d like to throttle back on that this year. I get worked up about a lot of stuff that is pretty irrelevant. That’s tied heavily to my own judgment of others and lack of forgiveness for the same. I guess I would summarize it by saying that I want to be more gracious in the coming year. At work I feel like I talk about people behind their backs too much and I hate that about myself. If anything I want to be known as a guy who forgives and forgets TOO quickly. I'm starting with the hard stuff... this will be pretty difficult to accomplish, at least noticeably.
Brad, you’ll like this next part. I’d like to limit my Facebook time (as compared to what it was during the past year). As with everything, there will be a cost with that because I will lose some connection with friends who I’m not going to email or call on the phone, but hopefully the benefit will be focusing my relational energy on family and close friends. I have no intention to ditch Facebook, but if I can wean myself off it as much as I’d like to, 15 minutes twice a week will be plenty to keep up. It’s not something that I’ll mention on Facebook itself, because I’ve seen TOO many people make a big deal about it like they’re ditching some nasty habit, and then they show up again a month later. I’m not judging anyone who spends hours a day on Facebook, but for ME, I don’t see the benefit I would expect from such a time investment. In fact, in relation to the previous paragraph, Facebook often delivers more consternation than pleasure. It’s not on my phone anymore, and I hope to keep it that way.
For a guy who feels like he’s reading all the time, I was surprised to look back and realize that I only read 10 books in 2013. Well, 10.5 really… I bailed on one that I had been reading for awhile right before Christmas, and I was half way through it. I expect my book count to increase this year, because rather than sit and waste 10 minutes or an hour on Facebook every day, I intend to use that time reading. My problem is deciding WHAT to read. In the next 10 minutes, I could make a list of 100 books that I want to read. If I never added to that list, at the current rate it would take me 10 years to get through them. That’s ridiculous. Unfortunately, my reading choice is often an economic one. That’s so lame. But I buy books that are cheap, not necessarily because “I gotta read that.” How do you choose your books? I’m currently reading a book that I received for Christmas (it was free!) titled simply “S.” It’s a different kind of book, but nearly impossible for me to explain. You can check it out on your own if you're interested. At any rate, since I’ll be spending 6+ months at sea this year, which is when I read A LOT, I may eclipse the number 10 before May.
I’m pretty satisfied with my current fitness thanks to Brad’s fitness challenge brain child. 4+ days of good workouts every week is more than I would probably have been able to manage on my own. My long-term fitness concept is to keep my heart ticking, so knowing that I’m elevating my heart rate on a regular basis is generally good enough for me. More on that in another blog re: Ed’s swimming plateau.
I will probably do some research in the coming year on my next education adventure. I’ve dabbled around a little bit in the past, but I would like to nail something down so that I can get started once we’re settle at our next shore duty site. I intend to earn a degree in my general work field, national security studies, security management, intelligence management, or counterterrorism studies. I don’t think I’ll qualify for a doctoral program since my MA is in Christian Leadership, so it will probably be another Masters. Funding said schooling will be a separate challenge, but I’ll figure it out. I’d like to posture myself a little better for post-Navy employment within my field. Lots of people with experience like me, but not many with the experience AND formal education to go along with it
Is it December yet?
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