It’s 2023, and I’m posting on my website for the first time in… 2 years, perhaps? Perhaps a tad longer?
Well, if you’re reading, thank you. I’m back-ish, probably, I think.
At the start of a new year, I occasionally make resolutions, I sometimes set goals, and I may have chosen a word of the year a time or two. The past year has been chaotic and beautiful and I will give a brief update on it below, but looking towards the new year, I am making intentional efforts to be better organized.
To that end, this year, I am working towards the word Discipline.
Well, if you’re reading, thank you. I’m back-ish, probably, I think.
At the start of a new year, I occasionally make resolutions, I sometimes set goals, and I may have chosen a word of the year a time or two. The past year has been chaotic and beautiful and I will give a brief update on it below, but looking towards the new year, I am making intentional efforts to be better organized.
To that end, this year, I am working towards the word Discipline.
2022 in Review
Mawwiage is what bwings us togethah today
I got married! Sarah and I got married on May 15th, 2022. Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us on our wedding day and to everyone who sent well-wishes from afar. We had an amazing honeymoon in Key West and are thoroughly enjoying married life. Here’s a little slideshow of some highlights from the wedding and the honeymoon!
I got married! Sarah and I got married on May 15th, 2022. Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us on our wedding day and to everyone who sent well-wishes from afar. We had an amazing honeymoon in Key West and are thoroughly enjoying married life. Here’s a little slideshow of some highlights from the wedding and the honeymoon!
I am a Master of the Fine Art of Fiction Writing
I graduated! In late July, I earned my MFA in Fiction Writing from Augsburg University. With a semi-terminal degree in fiction writing now, I am officially a master of fiction writing. (Cough, please tell that to any agents/publishing houses whom you know, cough.) I’m revising my grad school thesis novel, A Temple of Lies, and want to get it published as quickly as I can find representation in the literary world.
Sarah had to go and out-degree me
Sarah started grad school! She’s becoming a doctor of physical therapy, so now I’m just working multiple jobs to make ends meet while I pursue a career in the arts and she works towards her degree.
Note: This will get an entire dedicated post later, but my favorite ongoing gig is working with the amazing Homebrew Network. It is an entertainment network that releases four weekly radio dramas all focused around Dungeons & Dragons and other TTRPGs. I am the DM for one of the weekly podcasts and a voice actor in a second one!
I graduated! In late July, I earned my MFA in Fiction Writing from Augsburg University. With a semi-terminal degree in fiction writing now, I am officially a master of fiction writing. (Cough, please tell that to any agents/publishing houses whom you know, cough.) I’m revising my grad school thesis novel, A Temple of Lies, and want to get it published as quickly as I can find representation in the literary world.
Sarah had to go and out-degree me
Sarah started grad school! She’s becoming a doctor of physical therapy, so now I’m just working multiple jobs to make ends meet while I pursue a career in the arts and she works towards her degree.
Note: This will get an entire dedicated post later, but my favorite ongoing gig is working with the amazing Homebrew Network. It is an entertainment network that releases four weekly radio dramas all focused around Dungeons & Dragons and other TTRPGs. I am the DM for one of the weekly podcasts and a voice actor in a second one!
A Disciplined 2023
In practice, how will I work towards discipline?
Currently, with stay-at-home work, I have a fraught work-life balance. I wake up between 6:30 and 7:30 every morning, roll out of bed into the home office in the corner of the bedroom, and immediately start work. Between my various jobs, I try to find time to cook real food, exercise, work on my novels, and then contemplate pursuing other hobbies in my iota of remaining free time.
My intention for the coming year is to structure my time better. Much of my unproductive time is spent meaninglessly scrolling on my phone, so this is a habit I'll be intentionally fighting and breaking. With the additional time this affords me, I will make specific and measurable efforts to read, write, and work out more diligently while allowing my body and mind moments of rest and meditation.
Related, I also want to lose 15 more pounds, so I’m going to eat more healthy and balanced meals (less Domino’s) and continue exercising regularly. Once I hit that weight goal, or at least lose 10, then I’ll turn from shredding to muscle building! Don’t worry, I’m still a nerd and won’t become a dudebro no matter how swol I get.
As busy as I have been in the past fall, reading has fallen by the wayside. I want to intentionally recover my habit of always having a book nearby, and want to read at least 10 books in 2023 (although I would love to CRUSH this goal and read significantly more).
Currently, with stay-at-home work, I have a fraught work-life balance. I wake up between 6:30 and 7:30 every morning, roll out of bed into the home office in the corner of the bedroom, and immediately start work. Between my various jobs, I try to find time to cook real food, exercise, work on my novels, and then contemplate pursuing other hobbies in my iota of remaining free time.
My intention for the coming year is to structure my time better. Much of my unproductive time is spent meaninglessly scrolling on my phone, so this is a habit I'll be intentionally fighting and breaking. With the additional time this affords me, I will make specific and measurable efforts to read, write, and work out more diligently while allowing my body and mind moments of rest and meditation.
Related, I also want to lose 15 more pounds, so I’m going to eat more healthy and balanced meals (less Domino’s) and continue exercising regularly. Once I hit that weight goal, or at least lose 10, then I’ll turn from shredding to muscle building! Don’t worry, I’m still a nerd and won’t become a dudebro no matter how swol I get.
As busy as I have been in the past fall, reading has fallen by the wayside. I want to intentionally recover my habit of always having a book nearby, and want to read at least 10 books in 2023 (although I would love to CRUSH this goal and read significantly more).
2023 Book List
Fantasy Books
The Broken Earth Trilogy (The Fifth Season, The Obelisk Gate, and The Stone Sky) by N. K. Jemisin
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Book 1 of the Dark Tower series by Stephen King
Theology and Philosophy Books
Not sure which ones yet, but at least 2.
Classics
At least one book by Ernest Hemmingway, probably Old Man by the Sea
History/Mythology
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
A couple Japanese history/mythology textbooks I bought at Barnes & Noble
The Broken Earth Trilogy (The Fifth Season, The Obelisk Gate, and The Stone Sky) by N. K. Jemisin
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Book 1 of the Dark Tower series by Stephen King
Theology and Philosophy Books
Not sure which ones yet, but at least 2.
Classics
At least one book by Ernest Hemmingway, probably Old Man by the Sea
History/Mythology
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
A couple Japanese history/mythology textbooks I bought at Barnes & Noble
After the Move
I have been working on all of these practices already this year, but I also will not hold myself to any of these disciplined goals until mid February depending on our timetable with the upcoming move. Sarah and I are moving into a new apartment that better suits our vision of the next few years, and moving is always frustrating, difficult, and time-consuming. So I will do what I can now, and aggressively start practicing my new goals after making it through this move and unpacking and settling into the new place.
What About You?
These are my goals! I know that they’re not quite SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timelined), but I’ll get more granular and specific with them once I’m through the apartment move.
What about you? I’d love to hear your resolutions, words of the year, goals, and anything else that you are willing to share. I’m going to be pretty transparent with where I’m at with my goals this year, as I think publicly declaring them will make me more motivated. I’d love to encourage you as you work on your own goals!
What about you? I’d love to hear your resolutions, words of the year, goals, and anything else that you are willing to share. I’m going to be pretty transparent with where I’m at with my goals this year, as I think publicly declaring them will make me more motivated. I’d love to encourage you as you work on your own goals!
