Round and round she goes...

So, this time last year, I posted my first attempt at something like resolutions for a new year, in the form of ten commandments for 2004. I tried to generally bear them in mind throughout the year, although I didn't really expect to meet all of them. Let's see how I did.

1. Work Better. If you cannot succeed in working smarter, you should at least work harder.

This was, as I recall, the initial spark for coming up with the list, and as it turns out possibly the hardest to actually do. I did, however, make significant progress with this towards the end of the year, really maintaining focus in my work.


2. Learn To Keep Your Mouth Shut. You aren't as clever as you think.

It takes constant vigilance, and there were a few times I slipped up, but I think that's inevitable. My general level of awareness of when not to say something has definitely gone up, and I've been paying a lot more attention to actually doing it. Then again, a certain amount of that was probably going to happen from age and experience anyway. We'll call that half a point.


3. Learn To Open Your Mouth. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If you don't represent yourself, no one will.

I'm still not certain whether I should have combined this with the previous one in some way, but they are actually distinct, since that one's about awareness, and this one's about overcoming hesitation. I've done pretty well at this. It's still not my natural tendency, but I think I need to continue doing what I've been doing this year to get where I want to be, rather than significantly change my efforts. So that's a win.


4. Don't Be So Self-Centered. Make an actual effort to be there for your friends and generally pay attention to other people.

I came and went on this one. The first half of the year I think I did very well, then in the middle not so much, but then rallying towards the end. In the end I feel like I've been a better friend to a lot of people this year, and where I've failed recently (several sort of marginal times this month, in particular), it's been driven by conflicting obligations much more than by self-interest. And that's maybe the best I could expect, if not the best I could hope for.


5. Do Something. Start a personal project and bring it to completion.

Well, I started several personal projects that are well on track to come to fruition in the early parts of next year, which only sort of counts. Qualifying for Pennsic also counts, I guess, although it wasn't precisely what I had in mind when I wrote this. So, probably half a point there.


6. Figure Out The SCA. Decide what you actually want from your involvement, and actively try to get it.

Done fairly well. Apprenticeship and this Pennsic both effected strong gains in this area.


7. Figure Out Politics. Pick an issue you care about and make a real attempt to affect it, even microcosmically.

Kind of done. I was very interested in the samesex marriage issue, but only vaguely involved. I did some campaigning for Kerry, but not as much as I would have felt satisfied with. Probably another half point here.


8. Figure Out Work. Where do you want your career to go, and how can you get there?

Did alright. I'm not actually doing what I want to be right now (what with being unemployed), but I'm in a much better place than last year, and I have a good idea of where I want to go.


9. Figure Out Life. Perhaps more than one year's worth, but at least try to figure out what you want, and don't be so depressive if you get it.

Surprisingly, I did alright at this too. I had some interesting insights, particularly over the summer, which I may try to expound upon at some later point.


10. Figure Out Resolutions. Come up with a better set of these for next year.

I've thought about it some, and I'm actually writing them down now. I'll count it in advance.

So that's 8.5/10. Not too bad. On to next year.

In retrospect it looks to me like last year's list was too glib, and too general. I think I pretty much did alright on most of them, and I think they were good things for me to work on last year, but this year ought to have goals that are more concrete, and more focused. I think five is the right number this year.

1. Get a permanent development job


2. Write a complete story, of whatever size


3. Redact a recipe from Scappi


4. Juggle five clubs


5. Write a complete, sizable program of my own