New Year’s Resolutions

It’s that time again where we all make lofty promises to ourselves to do the things that we should have been doing or to take more chances in the coming year with things we haven’t done. And when we don’t fulfill these lofty challenges, we feel useless and disgusted at ourselves. That’s my plan for this year.

It might be wiser to call them goals instead of resolutions, but I think I’ll stick with resolutions even though to those who know me, I’m not known as the most resolute fellow. Maybe aims would be better… No, I firmly resolve this year to:

1. Lose weight – This is the classic. I’ve wanted to lose weight for the last six years, but due to lack of will I haven’t done it. Before I got to the UK, over one eight month period I lost 6 stone (84 pounds) and I’ve kept that off over these years. But I need to lose another 4-5 stone (56-70 pounds) to get to the weight I want to be at.

Chance of Achievement: 77%

2. Learn the Acoustic Guitar – This was my Christmas present and by next Christmas I want to be able to play some Christmas songs. An hour or two a week. I’m in no hurry

Chance of Achievement: 91%

3. Earn my CCNA – For the past year or two I’ve wanted to formalize my qualifications with Cisco Networking gear and the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) is the first step. I failed the last test by 3%, but that was the big, unified test. You can now take it in two parts, which I’m going to do.

Chance of Achievement: 94%

4. Learn Spanish – NE and I have wanted to learn a language or two (German as well) for six months now and we’ve made a little bit of progress, but she’s a bit reluctant as she’s never learned a Romance language. Hopefully we can bust through that barrier this year, but there will be a lot going on this year.

Chance of Achievement: 67%

5. Read All of Shakespeare’s Plays – I love Shakespeare and have my favourite plays, but I have never read all of the plays. I hope to do that this year, but there are a lot of them and I’ll want to read other things.

Chance of Achievement: 30%

6. Read Books – The Reading Challenge will enter its fourth year and the goal of 24 books in a year still stands.

Chance of Achievement: 100%

7. Give Up Coffee – 2008 was my year for experiencing coffees from around the world; Africa, South America, Indonesia, Australia, India, Hawaii, Jamaica… Kenya AA was the best of them, with a lovely cherry aftertaste. However, for health reasons I’ll be giving up coffee. Not that I’ve got a problem, but I want to be healthier. Fruit teas here I come.

Chance of Achievement: 85%

8. Write another Novel – I’ve written one novel, but it’s been awhile since I’ve written seriously. This is the year. I’ve got loads of great ideas packed into a particular project. It’s a cross-genre deal; a bit of horror, sci-fi and fantasy.

Chance of Achievement: 60%

9. Get My Old Novel Published – I wrote a humorous fantasy novel back in the day and I never made a serious effort to get it published. I want to polish it up a bit and get it out there. You never know!

Chance of Achievement: 72%

10. Get a Better Camera and Learn About Photography – I have to admit to myself that I envy my wife’s camera. I want to be able to do more and have clearer photographs. I’m looking at a Canon 350D (Rebel XT), which should be cheaper now that it’s a few ears older.

Chance of Achievement: 20%

I’ve got a lot to do this year. Wish me luck with it!