Resolutions(?)
I believe the world has twisted the notion of New Years resolutions into a dirty thing. Almost always, we set ourselves up for disappointment and self-loathing by setting impossibly-high benchmarks. That is why I am doing them differently. For example, mine started yesterday, on the first of February. Why make New Years resolutions so hastily? It deserves rational thought. That is why I spent the first month of the year milling over what I could realistically achieve. I plan to make these resolutions last at least 11 months, when I can re-evaluate them. Here are my goals (resolutions sound too strict), in no particular order:
- Speak and/or write in Norwegian every day.
- Read at least five books in Norwegian.
- Submit at least five pieces of writing to literary journals, at least one of which is The New Yorker.
- Release an album on vinyl.
- Be happy about my body.
- Write thirty pieces for Years For Beards.
- Make significant efforts toward a novel.
- Submit John Praw demos to at least five record labels.
Some notes are in order.
#1. This has been going for well over a month, though I might start a new blog in Norwegian to help work on my skills there even more.
#2. I am currently reading Den Gamle Mannen Og Havet by Hemmingway, as well as Hodejegerne and Karusellmusikk, both by Jo Nesbø – I started reading Vind I Auga by Jon Fosse, but poetry in Nynorsk is proving a bit too difficult for me at this point.
#3. I have already submitted one piece, with a second ready very soon. If anyone would like to read either, feel free to message me. I can not post it online, because some journals would consider it a form of publishing, thus ruining any opportunity to have them published elsewhere.
#4. This is the most difficult. It depends 100% on money. If I never have the money to afford it, it won’t happen.
#5. I feel it is wrong to just say “lose weight.” I’ve never really felt fat, though at the moment (due largely to lifestyle here in Norway), I am not where I want to be.
#6. This is all about motivation. Can I do it? Do I want to? Who knows.
#7. I have two or three ideas for a novel, but I need to focus on one. We’ll see where I get with this. It is something I want, though I feel it is wrong to put a deadline on it at this time.
#8. Almost ready for this. I just need to wait for summer when I’ll be back in the states.
