last good country

Twenty eleven, resolved.

Can you imagine a non-cyclical time structure, never having a sense of restarting? Chills. — @couch

The new year. The next year. A reset. A fresh start, in a way, if you want it to be.

In many ways, I believe that each day holds the opportunity for rebirth. After all, there is only today, and it need not be the same as yesterday unless that is what you want. It’s all up to you.

That said, though, the new year does offer a good opportunity for reflection on where we have been and where we hope to go. I’ve spent the last week or so thinking about what the past year has meant for me, and now I’m looking forward to what’s next. I have a few ideas of what I’d like to accomplish in 2011, though I do know life almost always has a way of changing your course. Here’s a quick rundown.

Get more involved. This has been on my mind since November. I’ve been pulled in a few different directions about where to focus my efforts. I’ve decided that I need to be more involved on the ground, so to speak. I’ve spent over two years writing about the city, and I’ve spent the last year being more involved with the decision makers and advocates. I want to continue this. I believe it will involve stepping away from most objective journalistic writing and move towards more activism and organizing. I see a lot of people in our city wanting to get involved, wanting to take action, and I think it’s time we collectively put our money where our mouths are and starting doing rather than simply offering good suggestions and feeling disappointed when they aren’t turned into action. We can do it.

Keep writing. I’ve been slowly building a list of stories to write, mostly based on various experiences I’ve had. Some of these are intensely personal and may be difficult to write. I hope to turn this list of story ideas into a collection of short stories, at least early drafts, by the end of 2011. It’s a long list, so this may be very difficult.

Rework my schedule. I work two jobs. I write. I attempt to have a social life. I want to travel. It’s grueling. I’m going to need to really sit and think about life-work balance and try to find a way to give myself a little more personal “off” time. While this schedule keeps me busy and occupied, it can ultimately be draining when you end up with no time for yourself.

Read more. I have little bits and pieces of time here and there, and I’d like to be able to finish many of these books I have attempted to get through. You can’t write if you don’t read, and I’m really falling behind in this area.

Practice my Spanish. I know people love to throw foreign languages on their resolutions lists. This couples in a bit with my desire to travel to South America and Spain. I studied Spanish for three years in college, and at one point could hold a conversation. It’s fallen off over the years, but I hope to reverse that this year.

Travel. I flew around 24,000 miles in 2010, which was the most I had done since back in around 2004. I travelled around 3,000 miles by train, and a few thousand more by car and truck. I got close to Medallion status on Delta, which would have been a first. In 2011, I have a list of places I want to see, both domestic and abroad: Chile or Argentina, Memphis, Nashville, Austin, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Spain, Ireland, Scotland, and a beach vacation to somewhere warm. I’m not going to be able to get close to visiting even half of those, but we’ll see. I think I may also attempt to do a few milage runs this year, which seems like something I should have already done before.

Do more with my day job. Yes, the dreaded ‘career development’ area. I’m cautiously optimistic there may be some room for growth at my job this year.

Keep my eyes, ears and heart open. The big one. Just like everyday. Be open to life and all it has to offer. Don’t be afraid.

A few things didn’t quite make the cut, but I would love to get to. Those include relearning the violin, learning French and learning how to draw. We’ll see. Also, much to the dismay of my mother, I don’t think getting married and producing grandchildren are on the list. Anything could happen, though, I suppose.

I’m hopeful for 2011. I feel a lot of things have been building—in myself, my community, and among my friends. I firmly believe we’re going to do some great things. I am ready for the surprises. I am ready for the celebrations. I am ready for the failures. We’ll keep getting up. It’s what we do.

I wish you all a very happy new year.