2010: The Obligatory Goals Post
It’s a new year. And that means new goals. Many of my goals are the same as last year…Goals that I’ve failed at achieving. But, we never let failure stop us from trying to succeed. We’d really never get anything done if we did!
There’s a number of things I want to do this year.
Writing: I want to start writing more and better. 2009 saw me get hired on as one of the parent-bloggers for Onslow Memorial Hospital’s Mom-Talk blogging network. I’m hoping that will continue through 2010 and flourish into some new opportunities. New opportunities that include include publishing in magazines and other websites. I want to start and keep a journal. My goal is to write one non-blogging piece a month for submission to magazines. I’m focusing on publications that look for creative non-fiction like The Sun Magazine. If you know a similar magazine that’s looking for something new, please let me know.
Reading: I want to actually finish a book this year. I’ve read horribly little the last few years. I want to read some creative non-fiction to help build the writer I want to be…But I also want to read good fiction. My goal is to read one book a month. Starting this month with Jack Kerouac’s Town and Country. I’ve been reading off and on (mostly off…) for months. I’m looking for recommendations, so if you’ve got them, send them my way.
Photography: I want to start taking photos…Again. To that end: I’ll be taking a self-portrait a day. Today it’s with the iPhone (at left). Future self-portraits may be well-planned shots, others on-the-go. The idea is to get back into the habit of taking pictures. I also want to start using my Nikon D40 more. I want to take more photo-walks and maybe even take the camera along on some bicycle rides and commutes. My goal: Post weekly to the Photography blog. Post daily self-portraits there, here and on Twitter and Facebook.
Bicycling: I have been extremely lazy when it comes to bicycling since October. I want to get back into using the bicycle as my primary form of transportation. I also want to get back into blogging more about bicycling and working harder to advocate for the bicycle as a viable form of transportation in Jacksonville, NC. My goal: 250 miles ridden a month by bicycle.
Fitness/Weight-loss: I have completely failed at all previous attempts to get into better shape. This year, I hope to make real and lasting lifestyle changes to get back to a reasonable weight. My goal is to lose 25 pounds by May 2010. I can achieve this by making better food choices, exercising and bicycle commuting more. Tools like the Lose It, 100 Push Ups, 200 Sit-Ups and 200 Squat iPhone apps will help me. As will getting to the gym and not being a slave to sodas.
Activism and Issue Advocacy: I’ve been remiss in advocating for the issues that are important to me for some time. In 2010, I want to take a more active role in the world around me. That means making more time to research issues and contact the elected leaders that can influence them. More letters to the editor, more letters to elected leaders (local, state and national) and more work pushing the ideas and ideals that I believe. It also means a more active role in the City of Jacksonville Recreation and Parks and Trails and Greenways Commissions.
So. Those are some of my goals this year. What are yours?
January 5th, 2010 at 3:14 am
Hey, I have no idea how I came across your blog but it’s a local one so I check it from time to time.
A lot of my goals are similar to yours, for example I have a D40x which I use to use extensively but not so much lately.
I also love to write and plan on getting back into it. I had a couple things in the little book that Coastal Carolina publishes a few years back.
As for interesting non-fiction, try reading something out there like The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe.
Cycling, burrrrr (cold outside). I just purchased a CAAD from the nice lady who works at the bike shop. I plan on communting regularly but it is just so cold out. I didn’t buy the bike from a fitness stand point, but more of a lifestyle stand point. I hate sitting in traffic and paying for gas. I hate even more the state and federal taxes that are wrapped into the price per gallon.
It had never been apparent to me as to how horrible Jacksonville is for riding a bike. I NEED to ride down Western for about a 1/2 mile and it is terrifying. There is no real way around having to ride down Western in the middle of the day other than chosing a longer route along 17, but then I would still have to turn left onto Western anyways. Of an interesting note, I will frequently see people on Wal-Mart blue light specials riding seemingly care free all over the road. They either have no brain or nerves of steel, lol. I would absolutely love to have a bike lane on Western. If there is anything I can do to help with that let me know. I think that bike trail (Rails to Trails??) is nice but I live by Jacksonville H.S. and doesn’t assist me in anyway with my commute.
Activism and Issue Advocacy..hmm… I have weened off on that a bit due to stress and futile effort and futile effort. Maybe local is where I need to focus my attention. My general issues that I love are advocating for the Fair Tax, Libertarian Ideals, and the need for a stronger 3rd party representation for all the people out there who are not sold on the current ways of the left and the right.
Good luck with your 2010 goals! If you want someone to advocate biking in Jacksonville I would love to be of assistance. A co-worker of mine would love to help as well I am sure. She will be going to Malaysia in February for Habitat for Humanity work but we plan on doing some rides when she gets back. I probably won’t be able to keep up (that is another goal of mine – cycling strength and endurance).
Happy New Years,
Chris
January 5th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Chris,
Thank you for your comment.
Congratulations on getting a piece into the Coastal Carolina book! I’m hoping to make it in there sometime when my writing is better.
I’ll definitely be picking up Wolfe’s The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test on your recommendation. I kind of live in a bubble, so I’m all ears for interesting reads.
Where are you trying to get to from Northwoods? (If you’re not comfortable putting it here, email me (thomas (at) brocknet (dot) net). I’m sure there’s a workable route. Riding down Western Blvd is exciting, if nothing else.
I welcome anyone that wishes to advocate for more and better bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in Jacksonville to attend the City Trails and Greenways Commission meetings. We meet the third Monday of each month at 6pm at the Senior Center at the Jacksonville Commons Recreation facility.
Thank you again for your comment and for reading. I hope that you continue to do both!
January 8th, 2010 at 10:32 am
Hey thanks for the response.
I basically go from the Chruch at Henderson/Gumbranch to the Best Buy where I work. Short commute, but Western is unavoidable. I’ll get more confident over time. I want to try and come to one of the meetings sometimes. I mostly work nights, but I am also off on most Mondays so I will have to check my schedule. I’ll send you an e-mail if I can make it this month.
January 10th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Chris,
Ha! I used to work at that Best Buy.
Have you thought about taking Onsville to Branchwood, through the gravelly non-road area, across Western Blvd to the Commons to McDaniel to Penny to the store?
You’d only have to cross Western at one intersection and it’s really not that bad.