The Obligatory Post About Resolutions, Part II

Right. The second half of the resolution thing, wherein, after admitting one failed at last year’s resolutions, one vows to do better with a new (or modified) slate of them.

I think what I will do this time around is, instead of thinking in terms of semi-abstract resolutions, I’ll set some concrete goals. It’s easy to fail without any clear, specific goal in mind. If I say I’m going to “do more stuff,” then what does that mean? Am I going to learn to juggle, direct a porn film, start an ant farm, or what?

Anyway, without further ado, here are some of my goals for 2006, the goals that will transform me from Boring Old Dave into New, Better, Smarter, Studlier Dave, or something.

The 2006 Lineup

1. Read more.

Yes, this one is back. It’s obvious -- I have so many books and I accumulate more almost every day. It’s time to read some of them. But which ones? This time, I’m going to make a list of books and make my way through it. That should work.

2. Write more.

Another one from last year. But what’s the real goal here? Well, I’m going to finally finish the first draft of my novel. It’s time to get that done. Even more, I’d like to kick out a short story each month. Not good ones, obviously, but drafts of those random ideas I’m always getting but never developing into anything. And yeah, it would be great to do more blogging, too. Lucky you, whoever is reading this.

3. Do more stuff.

This is starting to look really familiar, yes? For this one, I think I’ll make a list of things I’ve wanted to do locally but haven’t gotten around to, such as join a writers group or see a movie at the Michigan Theatre or catch more jazz shows at the Firefly. Even if I have to do this stuff alone.

4. Lose weight.

Seriously. Cliché or not.

5. Be weirder.

This one is definitely abstract, so how best to concretize it? I’m not sure. What I mean by it is that I’d like to indulge my creative side a little more, and not worry so much about what other people think of me. Other people probably mostly already think I’m an idiot or a jerk anyway, so it doesn’t make sense for me to exert energy worrying about it. Being weirder involves exploring and expanding tastes, whether it be in books, movies, music, people, food, cocktails, or what-have-you. 2006 is a year to push boundaries of imagination and taste. Why not?

That’s it. These should be doable goals, if I just stay consistently focused on them. Anyone else got any cool plans for the year?