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comment by Owl
Owl  ·  3740 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Do you make resolutions? If so, what are yours for 2014?

Every past year I always do crazy resolutions I know I'll never reasonably accomplish (with one serious resolution), and try to accomplish them (The idea is to just do things I wouldn't normally do otherwise, even if it amounts to nothing). This year shall be no different.

THIS YEAR, THE GREAT OWL WILL TAKE ON THE FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:

Challenge the First: I shall learn how to compose music and write a symphony.

Last year I tried to learn how to play the piano and failed (Somewhat). Was my problem in going too far? Nah, more like I'm not going going far enough. I'm going to be a composer! Step aside, Karl Maria von Weber, 'cuz It's Owl's time to rise 'n shine!

Challenge the second: I shall write a novel, publish it on Amazon, and rake in the $$$

I actually do write from time to time, but I keep it to myself because I know I'm terrible at writing. This year I'm going to write a novel that will sell HUNDREDS... Hopefully. Better watch your back, Dan Brown!

Challenge the last: I'm going to become an artist.

I'm gonna learn the rudiments of proper drawing/painting techniques and make some art that'll dazzle and razzle you. DaVinci's gonna have nothing on me, baby!

Actual Resolution: Write some Poetry every few days/weeks/whenever

I have a small library of poetry, and the more I read from it the more I fall in love with poetry and want to write some of my own. So this year I'm going to try to write some poetry. I've already gotten started writing some poems inspired by various events and stuff, and I hope to write some more.





_refugee_  ·  3739 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    Every past year I always do crazy resolutions I know I'll never reasonably accomplish (with one serious resolution), and try to accomplish them (The idea is to just do things I wouldn't normally do otherwise, even if it amounts to nothing).

I as well, except for me it's more about setting extreme goals in order to challenge myself. I set goals I know I might not reach, but I know that if I even do half of the work they require, I'll have made progress towards important goals. So for instance, I might make a goal of "exercise every day" knowing that I won't exercise every day but in trying to exercise every day I will exercise significantly more than I would if, say, I vowed to exercise every other day. I think it is good to set the bar high.

I also think that, although time is an arbitrary thing and the start of the new year really means nothing except what we've made it mean, which is nothing but a marker for passing the time, a marker made up of imaginary pieces at that, the New Year's is a great opportunity to assess where you are, where you've been, and set goals for the next year. Of course, I also set goals year-round. But how better to see if you are on track in your life than to see if you met your goals of last year? And how better to try and reach your goals if you set challenges on a yearly basis? Moreover, it is very interesting to see what people value each year and how that changes.

Typically I set 12 New Year's resolutions. I try to divide them into different areas of interest, passion and health, although they often fall into that pattern naturally. It tells me what is important to me. I try to make them "month-sized" resolutions i.e., I could take on a new one each month and incorporate it into my life if I need.

Last year some of my resolutions were:

1) Read all of the poetry books I have bought but not read (and don't buy more til I have read them!) - status: Read about 80% of the poetry books I had bought but not read, definitely bought new poetry books though.

2) Submit at least 10 times - blew this out of the water

3) go to at least 10 concerns - blew this out of the water

4) listen to radio more - blew this out of the water but have drawn away from it again these past few months

5) save a set amount per paycheck - with automatic transfers, easily done. did i manage to retain all of what i put aside? no but it went towards unexpected/emergency expenses so i suppose this is a mostly-accomplished

6) pay off credit card debt - yeah i did not achieve this

7) no soda - HAHAHAHAHAHA

I figure the ones that are most important to me I end up doing de facto but having a minimum number that's reachable over the year helps me do more than I would otherwise.

This year I have fewer resolutions but they are bigger and less defined.

1) Finally achieve the body I have always wanted - I started working on this about two weeks ago, actually, I am so determined on this goal I didn't want to not start til New Year's. This involves trying to exercise almost every day - cardio 3x, weights 3x, day off - but really "exercise" means anything today for instance I threw around a football and a frisbee for an hour. And cutting out some snacks and drinking.

2) Be better with my money

3) Poetry*

4) Get a promotion - I think this will be very achievable.

5) Be more sober more of the time (I'm not an alcoholic, but one could almost always drink less, no? saves money besides)

thenewgreen shout out because the first half of my post responds to owl but the rest is really responding to your question; they combined

*A goal every year, every month, every week, every day. Blog more. Write more. Submit more. Read more. All, more.

thenewgreen  ·  3740 days ago  ·  link  ·  

You set the bar high my friend, no doubt about it. If you feel up to it, you ought to share some of that poetry here. I'd love to read it. Happy New Year Owl and thanks for introducing me to so much great music this year.

Owl  ·  3740 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Sure thing. Here's something I just made up. Nothing ventured, nothing gained:

    And so another year shall pass,

    And so in celebration, I'll raise a glass;

    A toast for those who have upped and gone,

    And to those who will see their first dawn.

    May your new year be filled with joy in mass,

    And with enough luck to see another year pass.

Have a happy new year, all.

thenewgreen  ·  3740 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Nicely done and cheers to that! You work quickly :)