Here are my Goals for this year, in no particular order, with some brief thoughts on each.
As I did last year, I am re-recycling one of my 2021/2022 goals, which was to run 500 miles. That’s still 42 miles a month or 10 miles a week. When will I run this week’s 10 miles? That is the question to ask myself each week. The year will take care of itself.
One thing I very much want to improve upon is my Italian language skills. I really love the language and want to enjoy speaking and listening to it. To help move me along in that, I am going to learn at least one new verb each week. Learn the verb and use it a lot to make is stick within me. Additionally, I plan to be able to read at least the first two chapters of Italo Calvino’s Se una notte d’inverno, un viaggiatore.
I plan to write at least one thousand words a week. The only impediment to me doing this is me setting aside the time to do it. Once I actually sit down and start, the thousand words materialize without much effort. It all comes down to setting aside the time.
I want to read, really read and understand, three writings by Saint Augustine of Hippo. The first of these three is one I have already started, On Free Choice of Will. I also plan to read Confessions and City of God. Augustine’s style of writing, at least in On Free Choice of Will, takes some getting used to. He must be the patron saint of double-negatives. But if I slow down and read carefully, he is much easier to follow. It is well worth the effort.
Now that I have my boat and have sailed it a few times, I plan to put it in the water sooner in the water this year than last year and sail it more. Also, my plan is to acquire the first three ASA certifications, 101, 103, and 104, this year. Learning to sail well does require some study, but it also requires actual time sailing. I will do both.
Another goal, or plan, really, is for Mary and me to visit Hawaii. This is something we planned to do a couple of times in the past and both times our plans were scuttled. This time we’re going.
I also want to volunteer in some capacity to feed the hungry on a regular basis. The few times I have helped out in this way felt really good, really worthwhile uses of my time. I want to do more and do it regularly, make it a part of my life.
This last Goal or Plan is to Reduce. Reduce paperwork, reduce the clothes in my closet, reduce the tools and other accumulated things in my garage and basement, get rid of all those things that clutter my life. As they say, “Property is Slavery.” Losing these shackles will give me the time and the space to actually follow through on all my other Goals. I guess that makes this Goal a Synergy. Whatever. I’m ready.