Ringing and Resolving in the New Year

Last year about this time, I put up a post about my resolutions for 2009, which suggests that I should do the same for 2010, that is, reflect on how I did with my resolutions for the year just ended and what I'd like to accomplish in the year to come. I concluded last year's post with the comment, "I can't help but think that 2009 is gonna be one heck of a ride." If you followed along on 2009's Grand Adventure, then you know that it was one heck of a ride. Even without the whole trip thing, it would have been a good year; that just made it better.

Does that mean I achieved the resolutions I made for the year? Not really. I did better with some than with others, which is about par for the course when it comes to me and my resolutions. I didn't lose the weight I wanted to lose and actually gained a wee bit more. Yep, I just carried that one over to the 2010 list. I did exercise more than the number of times I resolved to, but then that's not really hard. Still, I left it on the 2010 list just to be safe. I wanted to make it through tumble falls in Myo Sim karate in 2009, and I almost did. I'm still wrestling with vertigo on tumble falls. Some days I think I'll be able to overcome it; other days I ponder being a terminal yellow belt. I decided not to resolve anything in terms of karate; I'll just see what I might accomplish. In Myo Sim kendo, I resolved to work toward my black belt, not really thinking I could realistically get it after being gone for two months. Black belt earned, I'm resolving to learn the material for second degree black belt in 2010. That's by no means a resolution to earn my second degree black belt, just to learn the material I need for it so that I can practice, practice, practice.

I also resolved to blog more regularly in 2009. While I certainly accomplished this during our trip, I failed, though perhaps not epically, during the rest of the year, particularly the last couple of months. For 2010, I decided to resolve more globally and simply "to create more." This covers my penchant for fiber as well as for words. Also on the writing front, I resolved to start a karate notebook and better organize my kendo notes in 2009. I did this, but barely. Perhaps because I'm at a fairly low level in the karate rank hierarchy, I find it difficult to write down how to do things. For 2010, I kept the bit about improving my kendo notes and dropped mention of karate ones. I also resolved to finish in 2009 more of my 50 things to do in or for my 50th year of life. I succeeded, with a few substitutions that I need to add to the 50 blog. For example, I wanted to see the sun rise over a beach again, but am willing to take the sun rising over Angkor Wat as a very worthy proxy. For 2010, I resolved to finish the list. I figure that five years should be sufficient for completing 50 things; when I do my list of 60 for my 60th year, I'll give myself six years in which to complete them.

Finally for 2009, I resolved to "go with the flow more." Whether I really accomplished this is probably open to debate. I think I did really go with the flow more while we were on our trip. Of course, when one is removed from much of their day-to-day responsibilities and, yes, headaches, it's easier to be mellow and take things as they come. I will admit to screaming, crying, and basically losing it when the pack of dogs was running around my legs in Siem Reap and I felt the teeth on the back of my leg, but then pretty much coped with what needed to be done. For 2010, I actually didn't put anything somewhat touchy-feely as this 2009 one was. I'm not sure why I didn't include one; maybe I feel that if I succeed on the "create more" one, I'll have the emotional energy to deal with whatever life might throw my way. I guess we'll see.

Will 2010 be the heck of a ride 2009 was? Probably not in the same way, but I have an idea it won't be too bad. More on that in another post, though, since some of those day-to-day responsibilities are calling, in particular the one about making dinner for the main men in my life and the mother (mine) who lives downstairs. And we're off!