I am intentionally not calling my 2026....goals but intentions (deliberate pun).
There are two reasons, really. The first is that I do need to have something to aim for (I am just wired that way). So I need something. The other thing is that if it is an "intention" and I miss it, that might have been...unintentional.
(I will pause for a moment to letting the shuddering booing of the double pun pass...)
On the bright side, when I started putting pen to paper, things just seemed to flow. Part of that was due to re-reading Be Unstoppable by Alden Mills (which probably merits a review). The other is that some things became self evident within the last few weeks.
This are as written and not in any ranked order
1) Pass the N4 JLPT Test - The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JPLT) is a standard language test on the Japanese Language offered by the Japan Foundation and the Japanese Educational Exchange and Services. It measures proficiency in the language through a test involving reading, comprehension, character recognition, and listening. There are five levels (1-5), with 5 being the most basic and 1 being essential fluent. I passed level 5 in 2016 but have languished in my study since then. It is time to change that. And it is eminently practical: Japan is the one country I seem to (and intend to) return to annually as often as I am able.
The test is given (in the U.S.) in December; no 2026 date has been announced. This is a "pass" or "fail" goal.
2) Climbing Mt. Whitney with no altitude issues - As longer term readers may recall, I had a touch of what I now think was Acute Mountain Sickness (altitude sickness) climbing Mt. Whitney in 2022, which re-presented itself (in spades) in the 2022 Whitney Pre-hike (as an early indicator) and Mt. Goddard 2024.
I sure as heck would like that to not happen again.
To do that, I need aerobic capacity. That could mean a lot of things in terms of training aerobically and strength. What it does mean is that as of right now, I have 221 days to correct that issue. The bright side is that it is something I will either hit 100% or not.
3) One craft day a month - In making candles for my coworkers for Christmas, I realized how much I enjoy working at making something and how little I actually do it. To rectify that issue, my goal is to set aside one Saturday a month (or at least part of a Saturday) to make things: candles, cheese, maybe sew. Just do something that 1) Is made by me; and 2) Involves doing something besides sitting by a keyboard.
4) Perform publicly on the harp one day a month - Performing at my work (as practice) and at my church in December reminded me how much I enjoy playing harp. But I know myself: I am more driven to practice if I have someone to play for (or at least the fear of failing while playing in public). If nothing else, I can bring my harp to work once a month and play for my coworkers.
5) Join a ministry - I sort of did this last year by participating as a short term small group leader. I need to do something more regularly.
6) Bring Cholesterol back into range - I had a visit with my new Physician's Assistant in November. From this, I got 1) A sleep study ordered (which, for the record, was inconclusive, so now I will maybe have an in-lab study); 2) Exercises for my patellar/quad tendonitis that has developed over the last year (to the point I cannot do kneeling waza; it needs to get fixed); and 3) Labs.
From the labs, everything was fine - except my cholesterol, which is out range. I think I know the root cause of this, which is a rather large quantity of full fat dairy that I consume (as yogurt, daily) and my sugar intake. And I think I can fix it without drugs, which is the goal.
7) Pare my life down - I did not have a clear idea or particular understanding when this presented itself, only that I have a lot of things (physical and otherwise) in my life. I need to let some of the things go. What or how, I do not know yet.
After I wrote all these down, I was rather shocked. All of these are pretty clear. Almost all have very binary outputs: I either "do" the things or I do not.
I am moderately excited to see how this ends.
The one I relate to the most is your first number three goal. Did you know you have two number three goals? Anyway, my life would be pretty dull in my opinion without fulfilling the need to create something regularly be it out of wood, recently out of LEGO or creating some story out of my genealogy research. I do others quite often, but these three are the ones I am currently doing.
ReplyDeleteEd - Bwahaha! I will definitely take that up with my editor when I see him next time. However, Since my editor is also me, I don't suspect he is going to do much about the situation. Numbering fixed.
DeleteI think in some ways, your regular woodworking has been a model for me in this respect. The only thing I ever really did with my hands growing up was painting D and D figures - which I really enjoyed. But I have not really had anything to replace that since then. The fact that I spent so much time on a keyboard and looking at a screen is really encouraging me to start to think about this more analytically. After all, at some point, I would like to not be looking at a screen and add a keyboard for long hours of the day.
Also - And I think this is a thing that Matthew B Crawford often writes - Is that in a world of electronic systems and automation, working with our hands to do something becomes more important as it is a very human activity.
I wonder how the whole new year's resolutions thing got started in the first place. And considering how many people actually claim victory for actually keeping theirs, it's amazing the tradition condition continues. But it seems to be a cultural habit, even for those of us who don't make resolutions. We just give it another name!
ReplyDeleteLeigh - I don't wonder if it simply comes from the fact that is human We like to believe that we always have the ability to change, and the beginning of the year provides a nice starting point to do that.
DeleteI completely remain one of those who seems to fail to meet theirs every year and yet and back at it every year trying again.
I don't know your work environment but I'm pretty sure no matter how skilled I was in music that management (Mainly the dreaded HR) would approve. Somebody would no doubt complain in a hidden manner to HR and...
ReplyDeleteBeing invited to perform at Church or other social events is permission but generally has accepted limits. I doubt Harp Music praising Judas Iscariot (as an example) would go well in most traditional Churches.
Otherwise quite a demanding set of "intentions" friend. I look forward to your successes in 26.
Michael - I work in an environment that has a manufacturing component, but also an office component. We have A couple of lunch rooms and a nice lobby and my operating principle is as long as I am not particularly loud or offensive there will not be much to say.
DeleteIn terms of books and sheet music, I have a catalog that if I even learn 20% of it will keep me busy for the rest of my life. It is for the most part Celtic music, but has some religious and other music in there as well. Somewhat surprisingly, I have not yet come across this song praising Judas Iscariot Although there is at least one carol from the Isle of Man From the island of Mann that is translated into English as The Jezebel Carol.
Besides work, I can always look for just a place to set up and play in a park or even at a coffee shop. It' is really just more for me to enjoy playing than anything else.
In terms of the others, very much appreciate you watching me on the journey. Honestly, I feel like this is a reduced version from the usual load that I put on myself.
Well "harping" at work can build proficiency so offering to play at church might agitate fewer parishioners. Of course asking co-workers first before bringing the harp to work might be the thing to do. Good luck with your intentions TB!
ReplyDeleteNylon12 - It is a good suggestion. Management really had no comment the last time - to be fair, a harp is hardly a disruptive instrument.
DeleteHow about playing your harp at a nursing home/ rehabilitation facility, or hospital?
ReplyDeleteIt’s me again…I never make New Year intentions but I never say never. This year I vowed to give up ice cream since I’ve become an ice cream-aholic! Also, you may want to look into some other methods for how “high cholesterol” is viewed, or even treated. Many health practitioners in the functional medicine, holistic realms of medicine do much different testing than the usual, and this can reveal if your “high cholesterol “ is indeed not high at all, and actually healthy. So many of the routine lab test ranges are geared for pushing prescriptions. I have a friend whose total cholesterol has always been over 300 and her very well known doc was never alarmed because all the other tests showed she was fine. I used to go to the same doc, before I moved, and when my cholesterol would hover between 240-270 he said those were nice healthy numbers, especially considering my other test results.
DeleteAnon - What a wonderful idea! Thank you for making the suggestion.
DeleteThank you for the suggestion on cholesterol. It is something I need to look into more. It has been creeping up over the years so it's not a huge surprise that it exceeded the limit of the test.
My initial thought is just a move to less full fat dairy and see what difference that makes.
Anon beat me to the punch. Ratio is sort of important. And the big C word is used to make a lot of hormones the body NEEDS. I really wish we could have medicine go into the science realm and leave the pills-dope-shots-insurance fun house of mirriors...
ReplyDeleteI started sewing again this year. Made a couple canvas tool rolls to start learning the "new" machine. I was gifted a Pfaff 332 from 1957. Oh baby is it a beast. It works a treat.
STxAR - I suppose the reason that I am somewhat sensitive to that particular item is that heart disease runs in both sides of my family. And it has gone up over the years. I think I can easily manage it back into the "normal" range via diet, which likely reflect changes that should be happening anyway.
DeleteWow! Sewing? That is amazing! I do not know if you are up to it, but you should post some pictures. I have a shirt pattern that I have had cut out for two years that I need to sew.
Worthy intentions, very inspirational for this 75 old. "Thank you vera much." in my best Elvis voice.
ReplyDeleteThanks T_M! I am hoping I have not bit off more than I can chew as I usually do.
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