hat trick, part one: obligatory new years post

So there are three posts I want to make right now. I want, of course, to talk about my new years goals, etc. I also want to discuss my struggle with feeling like a leper. AND I want to talk about learning Canadian history. In an ideal world, I would adjust my life so that I wrote about Canadian history two weeks ago, feeling like a leper (and conquering it) on January 1, and my new years goals today. What can you do though, I will try to relax and space the posts out. However, there is the high likelihood that after today I won't care to write the other two posts, but really you might be better off.

Also of course I need a catch-up post, because a LOT has happened since my last update. Who knows when I'll get that in. For now, though, I shall start JITRW's 2011 with the obligatory post about what I will take from 2010 and what I hope for 2011.

number one: surpass mediocrity


So I'm not going to pretend that my first semester of my Masters degree was not successful. Despite my struggles to stay focused, my procrastination, my ambivalence, and my burnout, I still did a really good job. I kept up with the big guys, put out some controversial stuff, and achieved the intimidating class averages. Of course I am proud of all of that, especially when it comes to my Critical Race Theory course. My goal from this, however, is to now push through and get past being average. I know I can do it if I can better manage those problems with focus/ambivalence/burnout/procrastination. As an ex-Academic Programmer, I will loosely employ SMART goals by professing that I will achieve 3% above the class averages in 2/3 of my classes. So here's hoping.

number two: greater resemble functionality


So a large portion of this blog has revolved around how great at life I was in August, and how much I would like to return to that place. If we remember correctly, that involves keeping my apartment clean, cooking new and interesting things for myself, exercising, and taking care of how I look. To do so will involve a major action plan and so, because there is nothing that says "SMART goals" about 'greater resemble functionality', I will work to achieve this resolution in the following ways:

a. get over it
One of the first things I have to do is deal with the fact that I was functional at some point and then I stopped for whatever reason. That I have to stop dwelling on what happened that threw me off my game, stop being angry, stop being nostalgic, and realize that no matter what goes on in my dramatic life that I should still do things for myself, like clean and cook and exercise.

b. start fresh
I am pretty excited about the idea that when I return my apartment will be clean and devoid of groceries. AND I will have a vacuum and an exercise bike! This way I will be able to start new patterns when I "move in" as opposed to just "go back". In terms of groceries, I plan to compile a list of healthy recipes that I will eat, and shop for those. This will help me avoid doing it the other way around: shopping with my taste buds and finding recipes based off my gluttonous ingredients. I will also be able to forge a new schedule; my classes are changing and so I will be able to reconfigure where I fit in important things. The hope is that it is less of a transition and more of a starting point for everything.

c. schedule
As I just mentioned, with the new class schedule can come a schedule in which I make sure everything I would like to do, fits. I plan to use PEN to put in when I will be working out, cooking, tidying, showering, laundering, etc. so that it can become habit to the point that I no longer have to be so rigid on myself. Hopefully it will also get to the point that changes in mood can not throw off my routine. (Also a hope is that routine will help prevent changes in mood as well).

number three: make ten new friends


So far in grad school, I have done some meeting of people. I have made sure to participate in social stuff, talk to people in classes, etc. What I'm not doing yet is venturing out of my comfort zone. I'm not putting the BlackBerry down, letting myself be lonely so that I actively search out that connection with people in my new city. (PS, in no way should this inspire a BB intervention or text messaging tough love). I still need to do it though, and I am certain that once I make a point to keep friendships up with the people I have met, I won't feel like I am SO far away. There needs to be a balance of friends, is all. Friends are sometimes the hardest part for me though, but I am determined. Ten friends may sound like a lot, but over the course of twelve months, I think it's doable.


I suppose I'll keep this blog posted with how well my goals and action plans are going. Try to keep me accountable to them :). Happy New Year!