2013: The Year of Being Practical

I like setting goals for myself. I do not always fulfill them, but having those goals makes me feel like there is something I can do and then put a check mark beside it. I do not necessarily cause my goals to dictate my level of happiness, or at least, I try not to let them dictate my happiness. Last year, I reached only about a third of my goals, granted, I did set some ridiculous goals last year, but I still had an awesome year.

So I know that 2013 probably will not be as great as 2012, at least not in the same way. I feel like this year is going to be a much more practical year. It will still be exciting, but just a different type of excitement. With that in mind, here are my goals for the next 12(ish) months.

1. The 50 book challenge
2. Run a half marathon
3. Make 50 YouTube videos
4. Go to Playlist LIVE and LeakyCon
5. Become fluent in Spanish
6. The 100 movie challenge
7. Live in another city

There are a few exact repeats with the 50 book and 100 movie challenges and becoming fluent in Spanish. I completed the 50 book challenge last year but I not so much with those other two goals. I am going to avoid rewatching movies and TV shows so that I can complete the 100 movie challenge this year. As for the Spanish fluency, I already started with a basic conversation book I borrowed from the library and then after that I am going to go back over my textbooks from Spanish in college. Because I have been exposed to so much Spanish throughout the years, I think it is very reasonable that I can become fluent in it if I just apply myself a bit. 

I decided to cut a few goals down from last year with the marathon and convention going. Last year, I wanted to run a marathon even though my running level had plummeted the three previous years. I thought it would motivate me to run more. It worked for a little while and then I started looking at it as if it were an impossibility (even though it was not) so I decided it would be better this year of I aimed for a half marathon instead. It is more reasonable and it is a much more logical first step before I reach a goal of running a full marathon. The same thing with my con going. Last year, I was able to go to LeakyCon for the first time so this year I figured I should just one up it instead of trying to triple or quadruple the feat. 

I went the opposite direction with video making. Last year, I want to make 35 YouTube videos. I only made 20 videos, mostly due to being lazy, unmotivated, and making excuses for myself concerning my equipment (or lack thereof). This year, I do not have the equipment excuse. I bought a new camera and I have a new phone with a front facing camera so I can make videos anywhere and at anytime. However, I have hit a bit of a snag with my computer and not being able to edit, but I am hoping to get a new laptop soon because my current one is turning 6 in August. In other words, it is ancient.

Lastly, and most importantly, is my last goal for this year which is to live in a another city. This is something I have always wanted to do and I kind of did it when I was at UT but the fact that it was still in the same state and only and hour and a half away from home did not make it feel that way. I would like it to be a large city, mostly because I have fallen in love with being able to walk places and/or using the public transportation. I have recently expanded my job search to New York, DC/Baltimore, Chicago, and even Orlando and Miami. I am, of course, not ruling out landing a job in another country, but I am leaving that for a few months from now if I still have not found something that I like. 

And that is about it. Like I said, it is exciting in its own sense and it is most definitely challenging and I do like a good challenge.