It's just a rotation of the Earth around the sun but there is something special about the timing of the year. You go through all the seasons, one pass through each holiday. It is a good amount of time to set big goals for yourself but also long enough for those goals to get lost along the way.
I've neve been a fan of 'resolutions', especially vague ones like 'eat healthy', 'exercise more', 'do less social media'. But I do like goals and tasks. At any given time, I have a few goal and task lists that I go through to check off. For a year, I try to set some big goals for myself. Here is what I had for 2024 and how I did:
1. More novelty. I want to try more novel things, outside my usual routine or comfort zone. I think one per week is too easy so I am going to aim for 100 which is about 2 per week.
Result - I think I did good on this one.
2. Wear more fun socks and hats but get them all at independent shops or as gifts.
Result - I think I got only one new hat in 2024. But on the socks, I nailed it. I have about a dozen fun sock pairs that I wear regularly. I get good comments on them too!
3. Do something with Eyes on FF.
Result - I call this a fail. I did make progress in trying to figure this site out, just ask BoB, Samuraid, or o_O. And those guys were super helpful and probably did even more than I could. However, I still have o_O's helpful instructions in my email inbox that I have yet to try out. I may make another thread on this pleading my case.
For 2025, here are my two goals:
1. Read 100 new things. I started a thread on this.
2. Advance my skills/knowledge in each of 10 construction trades. In my middle years, I find it enjoyable to do some light fix it work around the house or build things I can handle on my own. I want to do more of that and just develop these skills, as they are very handy. Nothing to the point of being some kind of certified guy in any of this, but enough that I know the lingo and the basics. I identified the 10 based on my own groupings and here they are:
- Carpentry/woodwork
- Electrical
- Landscaping
- Glazing
- Metalwork
- Painting/finishing
- Masonry
- Plumbing
- Roofing
- Mechanical/automotive
What are your goals?