2014: A New Chapter

Yeah yeah yeah, New Years resolutions again? I hear ya. But it really does help me. And I think it's important now more than ever for me to make them. Why? Well, because I'm waiting to see if I made it into any graduate school. And that means that for a few months, I won't know if I'm going to grad school. This also means that if I don't get into grad school, I'd better have one killer backup plan ready—otherwise known as a life plan. I probably won't have many goals written down like I have in the past. So many of those were school oriented, and now that I'm not in school, they're gone. I am not going to put down so many small ones like I did before; it seems silly for me to write down things like "be more religious" or "make so many of this and that" when it seems to me that those goals are either just for the sake of saying I did it or too vague to actually measure progress. So my goals are going to be specific this year. And I am going to give explanations for these goals because then I will remember exactly why I chose to be that specific. More things may or may not be added to this list over the course of the year. But these are the five main goals:


1: Communicate what I'm thinking and feeling to people when pertinent.

• Yes, the word pertinent needs to be there. I will always subscribe to privacy and decency in regards to what I tell people and when. The key here is that I have caused myself, and others, a lot of problems in the recent past because I have been unable to communicate what I am thinking and feeling even though I recognized I needed to. Recognition may be the first step to change, but I've recognized this for almost all of last year, and it really has always been out of hand. I need to realize that I am not being ridiculous when I feel or think something that I legitimately am having a problem with, or even simply enjoying. If I don't communicate, then the people I care about will never know.

2: Write something and try and get it published: novel, essay, short stories—something.

• If I don't keep up my writing, then I'll be rusty if I get accepted into graduate school. And if I'm going to use writing as part of my livelihood, then there's no better time like the present to get started on something. I did put my short stories from my thesis into different competitions, and they'll be published for the public to read if I win, but if I don't then I really ought to keep trying. And if I do get published, well, then that's good! And I can add that to a list of firsts. The point is, if I don't keep writing, I'll have a harder time picking up the pen, or the keyboard, if you will, again.

3: Get a full time job.

• I do freelance. Also known as odd jobs. The work isn't consistent. When I get it, it pays well. However, it would be fantastic to secure something that will ensure I get a steady paycheck so I could possibly move into my own flat without roommates—or choose my flatmate. The point is, while I do have a housing contract that doesn't end until August, if I had a better job then I wouldn't be so worried about where I'm going in life. Also, if I don't get into graduate school, then this will make me feel loads better about my situation.

4: Read more philosophy books.

• I had a fantastic Shakespeare professor who gave me a list of philosophy books to read when she found out I had read some Althusser, Heidegger, Adorno and Horkheimer, Saussere, and other literary criticism. The thing is, no matter which way I slice it, I'm going to have more time. I have work, and that work will be done between certain hours, but there is no homework, per se. I get to choose what I do. And this is something I really think I'll not only enjoy, but benefit from. Even though I'm not in school anymore, I fully intend to continue my education, and this will be a great way to do that.

5: Exercise

• I don't have a once a week or twice a week put on the end of this for a reason. I don't like the stress of thinking that I should stop trying if I'm not going to buy a gym pass and use it regularly. I have a friend who wants me to get a 24 Hour Fitness pass so I can go there and we'd have a workout buddy system, but I'm not sure yet. I do know that my family has an elliptical and bike I can use, as well as a weight system. When I'm visiting them, I do use those. Consistently. But when I'm not visiting, well, it's harder to want to exercise in the winter months. It's cold outside so I don't want to go for long walks and bike rides. So when I say that I have a goal to exercise, it's more of a goal to maintain weight than to lose it; it's more of a goal to enjoy time doing things I like instead of torturing myself about not being able to bench press such and such a weight. It's about staying active and enjoying life, whether that is dancing, biking, walking, swimming, or any other activity that I enjoy.

Year-End Goal Review

I did a lot this year. I didn't succeed at everything, but I learned a lot of life lessons. And without further ado, I'm going to post my goals for 2013 for the last time. Next month I may set new ones, since for a few years now this has been a successful venture.

1. Exercise at least once a week outside of dancing.

This didn't go over so well. However, I did exercise today, and I was thinking that now that I have easy access to an elliptical and stationary bike and weight system, this might be easier for me to do.

2. Read one book a month outside of required reading.

I lost track of what I read, but I know I made the goal.

3. Get all my great works papers written.
Done.

4. Save around $50 a month.

I've tried to be really good at this. I think I mostly succeeded.

5. Get my Honors Thesis written.

This was possibly the hardest thing I did all year. But it's done, and it is published. 

6. Graduate.

So nice to be done.

7. Get an internship.

The internship will most likely turn into a job. I'm interning with Jolly Fish Press, a national publishing house based out of Provo, but with a virtual office so I can work anywhere!

8. Get an editing job.

Did that.

9. Apply for Grad school.

Done and done! This was only slightly frustrating.

10. Cook 10 new things.

Probably did it. Didn't keep track of new things cooked.

11. Have at least a 3.59 GPA by graduation.

3.6 final GPA!

12. Crochet something new.

Plenty of new things, including a shawl, minion hats, and a cardigan in the works.

13. Take a recreation class.

meh . . .

14. Eat out less.

If we don't count late night Denny's runs.

15. Manage my time better.

Mostly good.

16. Read the New York Times at least twice a week.

Like I said, the Guardian.

17. Go to at least two dance conventions.

Still going strong. Denver Fusion Exchange in January!

18. Index at least 200 names.

...

19. Scrapbook at least 10 pages.

No excuse. I made cards.

20. Make handmade cards for all the major holidays.

Goal accomplished! So much fun.

21. Do something I've never done before.

Plenty. I named some in my previous post, but I'd like to add to the list becoming a DJ for west coast swing and blues dancers. I never would have ever thought I'd do that in my lifetime.

So, total: 17/21

That's proof enough for me that writing my goals down and keeping a monthly account of my progress works for most things I plan to do. I think that I'll probably change certain goals in my next year depending on if and where I get into graduate school. 

Here's to a fabulous year, and a fantastic year to come!

Goals Update . . . Long Overdue

I decided that, on this, my birthday, I would look at how well I've done on my goals. I think I've done decently!

1. Exercise at least once a week outside of dancing.

I haven't really done this. I suppose it's never too late to start, but sometimes it seems a little futile.

2. Read one book a month outside of required reading.

I've been in and out on this. Some of the books that I am required to read, such as Their Eyes Were Watching God, were on my "to read" list anyway, so I feel like I want to double count some books. Is that fair?

3. Get all my great works papers written.

My honors portfolio has been submitted and passed!

4. Save around $50 a month.

I've been really good at making sure I do this.

5. Get my Honors Thesis written.

I defend my thesis in two weeks!

6. Graduate.

If all goes as planned, this happens in December.

7. Get an internship.

I've applied for an internship, but haven't heard back.

8. Get an editing job.

I have three editing jobs right now, and that feels great.

9. Apply for Grad school.

In the throes. I need to take the GRE. Yikes!

10. Cook 10 new things.

I'm pretty sure I've done this. The last new thing I made was Caribbean rice.

11. Have at least a 3.59 GPA by graduation.

It will actually be difficult to get this, but I should only be one or two hundredths of a point short.

12. Crochet something new.

I've been enjoying crocheting for awhile now. Over the summer I crocheted a shawl, and I'm making a shirt now.

13. Take a recreation class.

I bailed out on this . . . yeah yeah, I know.

14. Eat out less.

I've been pretty good about this, minus late night Denny's runs.

15. Manage my time better.

I think that finishing my thesis and work forced me to manage time a lot better.

16. Read the New York Times at least twice a week.

I was good at this for awhile, but not so much lately. I do read a bit of news online, but I could be better.

17. Go to at least two dance conventions.

Nocturne Blues, Sweet Molasses Blues, and I'll be going to the Denver Fusion Exchange in January.

18. Index at least 200 names.

Haven't even started (face of shame).

19. Scrapbook at least 10 pages.

Haven't even started . . . (more shame).

20. Make handmade cards for all the major holidays.

I made lots of Halloween cards! Maybe pictures later?

21. Do something I've never done before.

I think I want to 

Goals Update April 2013

I didn't do as much this month, but I did do some things. And this month was the last month of school, so my focus was really on that.

2. I read The Spirit War by Rachel Aaron. The Eli Monpress series is a great quick, fun read if you're looking to relax and enjoy a good book.

4. Rough month for money. I bought my ticket to Nocturne Blues and my ticket to Sweet Molasses Blues, so that definitely put a dent in things, but then I had some unexpected expenses as well, like a parking ticket . . .

5. My research for my honors thesis is done. Now to get to writing.

11. I should have jumped my grade average quite a bit because I got all As and A minuses in my classes this semester. All the grades havent been posted yet, but I'd guess that my grade point average should be between a 3.55 and a 3.57. I'm hoping for the higher end.

12. I crocheted a couple of rugs, and I made two belts.

13. I registered for a volleyball class in the fall. We'll see if I decide to keep it in my schedule.

16. I haven't read the New York Times twice a week, but I did spend quite a bit of time on the BBC Arabic news site so I could practice my reading skills. I got to read about what was going on in a different language, and that was cool, so I'm counting it.

20. I made cards for Easter. Fun stuff.

Goals Update March 2013

So, here goes nothing. I did stuff this time!

2. I read Small Gods by Terry Pratchett. Fantastic read if your looking for something fun or if you're looking for something deep. Great commentary on religion if you choose to read it that way.

4. I technically met my savings goal, but then I pulled it out of savings to go to Mile High Blues in Denver. Totally worth it, and what I've been saving for anyway.

5. Got more research done for my thesis. Hope to really get into the meat of this next month.

8. I got a job in acquisitions with Covenant Communications, Inc.

11. I jumped my grade point average a bit after getting an A in my psychology course.

12. I found this pattern for a crocheted belt that I'm going to try out next month.

17. I went to Mile High Blues, and I just paid to go to Swing Diego.

20. I made cards for St. Patrick's Day. I didn't send them all out, though. I guess next year?

Goals Update January 2013

So, I realize that it isn't quite the end of January, but I don't think I'll have much time to update my blog in the next couple weeks, I have so much stuff going on. Here goes nothing.

I haven't exercised outside of dancing, but I hope to be better at this goal next month.

I read Dreamspinner by Lynn Kurland.

I've been too focused on getting my honors thesis proposal rewritten, I haven't done any great works papers. It'll happen, though.

My honors thesis proposal got accepted, and so now I'm gearing up to write the thesis. It's really happening!

I'm making a trivet out of pop bottle caps (you know, the ones that come off the glass bottles) and crocheted covers. Should be an adventure. Pictures to come.

I made Shawarma, and me and Nathan are going to start this thing where I surprise him with what I cook when I want to cook something new, so then I don't have tons of leftovers.

I went to LVFX and had a blast, and I bought my ticket to go to Mile High Blues in March.

Considering how much I ate out last semester, this month I've been fantastic with not eating out as much.

I've picked up a copy of the New York Times about four times a week this entire month. Not bad.

I have a friend who still owes me money for the hotel room at LVFX, so if I get that, I should be able to save about $50. It would be nice if I did because that would mean that I get to put that toward Mile High Blues hotel, food, or whatever.


So, I got lots accomplished. This is amazing to me, considering all that's gone on this month. If I've seemed completely distant, sorry. My Grandpa June almost died in the hospital the second week of the month, now he's paralyzed from the waist down, my brand new computer broke, my honors thesis proposal was rejected, and then the next week I had a relationship go downhill, I didn't get a job I wanted, I had a professor who wouldn't give me extra time to do work so I could help my family in this sad time, and then this last Tuesday my Grandma Vickie (Grandpa June's wife) was admitted to the ICU with bacterial spinal meningitis.

Yeah, that was my month. The highlight is simply that my thesis proposal got accepted yesterday. Well, and LVFX. But I don't think those two things necessarily outweigh all the other stuff. It's thrown off my schedule to be done with my Psychology course by the end of the month. I got all the coursework done, but I still need to take the final. Oh well, maybe on Sunday I'll study like crazy for it and take the test next week. Or the first week of February. I keep telling myself I have time. One step at a time. Nathan tells me that next month will be better.

How 2012 Went

Here's an update on my 2012 New Year's Resolutions. In 2011 I was fantastic at updating them. Life picked up for me this year, so I was much less diligent. However, some great things happened.

1. I went dancing at least twice a week. I count that as exercise.

2. I crocheted something for myself. The afghan is still in progress. It got set aside for dancing/social life.

3. I didn't quite get a 3.55, but I think I'll be really close to that. Grades for Fall haven't been posted yet.

4. The dress didn't get touched. Go figure. Parents are moving, etc.

5. I got all of my great works events done. Now I just have to write papers.

6. I got my Honors thesis proposal submitted. I should hear back in a couple of weeks as to whether it got accepted or not.

7. I got two editing jobs and an internship. I have also applied for another one and a bunch of internships.

8. I got at least two great works papers written. I can't remember how many I've started, but I should be finished with them by mid next year.

9. I didn't learn to cook a new thing each month, but I did manage to do a lot of cooking over the summer where I learned to cook new things. I still consider this goal a success.

10. Things didn't get repacked, but they will have to be by the end of this break because my parents are moving soon after.**

11. I wish I could say I spent less time on the internet. Maybe I did overall, since I have been out dancing a lot, but a lot of my interactions for work and school happen over the internet, so that just isn't as feasible as I'd like it to be.

12. I couldn't manage to keep headphones out of my ears twice a week. I did really well until about September . . .

13. Like I said, all great works events finished. It feels good.

14. I think I can say with assurance that I've been nice to my family.

15. I managed to budget well enough that I am using that money to go to a fusion convention in Vegas in a couple of weeks.

16. I competed in DanceSport. Took 6th in Samba, and was in the top 12 couples in Quickstep.

17. Didn't manage to get the scrapbook pages done, and my mom packed up her scrapbook, so this'll have to wait until next year.

18. I was doing really well at going to the temple each week until about May, and then I just went about once or twice a month. I could do better, I know.

19. I completely failed at reading General Conference talks. I did try and read daily thoughts/scriptures, though. Semi-successful at that.

20. I couldn't find a name of a Cherokee ancestor. The records are pretty well lost. It's really sad to think about, so I don't much.

21. I don't think I managed 24 books for fun, but I'm certain I read a lot.

So, total tally: 11/21***

That's alright, I think. I definitely didn't completely fail all of the goals, and I really feel like I grew a lot this year. Next year I intend to set goals again, because I feel like even accomplishing half of what I write down is good and important. And if I look at what I actually got accomplished, that stuff was really important. Especially the Honors thesis.

** I actually got this goal accomplished before the end of the year.
***12/21 is the final total tally.

Update on Resolutions

I intend to keep track of how well I accomplish my goals.  That way I can know how much more I need to work.

1- I'm still working on making a new friend.
4- I've lost two pounds this month, which is amazing since I haven't made a point to go to the gym.
5- No regrets yet.
6- I got one project crocheted.  I made a post about that one.
11- I've eaten two to three meals a day every day for the last month.  Pretty impressive feat.
12- Still working on less cynicism.
16- I'm trying my hardest to relax at least twice a week for how much homework I have.
17- I am still not great at large groups.  Trying to go to more big events, though.
20- I read my two books for the month of January.  Spellbound by Lynn Kurland, and Going Postal by Terry Pratchett.

So, that's my update for January.  There will be goals on my list that I can't accomplish until fall semester here at BYU, such as taking a ballroom dance class, and I won't know how close I am to having a 3.4 GPA until the end of winter semester.  And one thing I know is that I can't wait until summer.  It is way too cold.

My New Year's Resolutions

1. Make one new friend.
2. Have a 3.4 GPA by the end of 2011.
3. Take a ballroom dance class.
4. Weigh 120 pounds (give or take a few pounds) by the end of 2011.
5. Have no regrets.
6. Crochet all the afghan projects I have planned.
7. Finish sewing my dress.
8. Have all twelve music events checked off my honors great works list.
9. Have all twelve art events checked off my honors great works list.
10. Have at least six great works papers written and properly edited for turn in.
11. Eat three meals a day at least five days out of the week.
12. Be less cynical.
13. Try to somewhat understand people's general belief in soul mates.
14. Plant something in my vegetable garden that I've never grown before.
15. Know my limits.
16. Balance working and relaxing instead of doing each in the extreme.
17. Tolerate company in large groups.
18. Take more things on faith.
19. Relearn the ability to give people the benefit of the doubt.
20. Read 24 books for fun (that's two a month on top of whatever else is required reading).

Generally I find that making resolutions at the new year is fruitless, as I just forget them and never complete any that I set out to do.  However, this year I'm going to try writing them down; supposedly that helps a lot of people.  I also felt that I would make my goals a little more specific so I could slowly work towards them.  Out of the twenty goals I've set, I hope to have at least numbers 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, and 20 accomplished.  So, that's about half.  Some will definitely be easy, like number 14.  Others will be tough (particularly number 2).  As I do this, I hope to become a more goal oriented person instead of a drifter.  I'm really good at drifting, so it is going to be a hard thing for me to do, this becoming goal oriented, but I hope it will help me achieve all I want to in life.