So this is the new year
I’ve spit out most of what I wanted to say in 2006, maybe being off the mark on some things and definitely a lot which didn’t capture exactly what I wanted it to say. I’m currently reading a book called Writing Down the Bones, which is about writing what you mean and trusting your inner voice. I’m about half done it and I must admit that it’s coming off as kind of hokey. I’m not sure if it will ‘free the writer within’ me, but it’s at least somewhat interesting.
So here’s my 2006 year in review.
First off, here’s a link to my 2005 year in review. I wasn’t too bad in what I wanted from 2006. I wanted to join a gym, which I did. I wanted to get further in my writing, which I did. I wanted a new apartment, which I have. I wanted to get some travel done, which I did. I wanted to start to feel more comfortable in my skin, which I do.
The main things I’ll remember from 2006:
The Sloan/Slowcoaster show for Juno week in Halifax. I haven’t seen a lot of live shows, but this was the best I have seen. I also saw Wilco, which was pretty cool as well. I saw Slowcoaster a number of other times and the free concert prior to Juno week. I skipped Keith’s Fest.
K-Murf was pretty amazing actually. Getting friends together and setting loose on Halifax. Hope for better things this year.
The Memorial Cup was a huge experience and parlaying that into season credentials with the Mooseheads is even more incredible.
The new apartment is everything I wanted. I can’t see myself moving anytime soon. Finally somewhere to call my home.
The trip to Buffalo had some trepidation at the start, but was well worth it.
Things I want from 2006
Well first, I’m trying to rededicate myself to the gym. I went pretty consistently until May of last year, and then the Memorial Cup and work really knocked me out of the loop and made it hard for me to get back in. I’m trying to focus on at least going once a week and starting to form some sort of plan to follow.
I’d also like to get back into soccer. I was almost successful last year, but it all fell through in the end. I should try again this time. In the same vein, I want to focus more on curling. I’m only curling once a week right now, but I have been able to improve my game and I want that to continue. Some of the other members at my club are competitively curling, which is something I want to get into soon enough.
Obviously, the natural progression of writing should continue. I’m getting paid for it now and opportunities abound for growth. In reality, it’s at the point where I’ll get as much out of it as I’m willing to put in. The sky is the limit and I could not have imagined this coming to pass when I started so many years ago. Making the most of it all is key.
The same goes for work. The workload will never really get easier or lighten up. So making the most of the time I have and trying to achieve as much I am able to is all I can do. The expectations are there for quite a bit, and while I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to meet every one of them, I am trying.
I like to think I’ve figured out a lot of the questions I’ve had about my own path. I’m a lot more comfortable with where I am in my life and where I’m going. I’ve tried hard to get a lot of things resolved and balanced. So my next goal I guess will be dealing with the loneliness.
I’d like to be a little less materialistic and focus more on my character and my acheivements. Focus more on my writing and doing things instead of having things. I’m at the point where I’m comfortable with what I have and so I should change what I want to more intangible desires.
Along the same lines, I want to cut down on clutter, both physical and otherwise. I do a lot of internal pondering, self-questioning and it’s not always productive. Along the same lines, this new apartment has a lot of stuff in it and getting rid of that which I don’t need is key. I can’t even walk into my storage closet and there’s boxes in my living room again. Cutting down the clutter and organizing the world around me.
I want to get more knowledgeable about that world around me. I’m not always on top of world events and I want to be able to feel more comfortable in what I know. I always remember my time in college where it seemed I was on top of these things more. Although maybe I was just more naive. That of course all goes to the goal of writing more meaningful, sensible posts.
Oh, and I should pick up that trumpet again sometime.