Blind Prophecy

Typically, I don’t waste a lot of time on making New Year Resolutions. I don’t like the groupthink aspect of considering this the only time of the year to take stock and make promises to myself. However, this year I’ve finally started to make some realizations about long-term life goals and smaller steps necessary to achieve them. I know, I know, it’s horribly obvious, but better to catch on late than never.

Maybe I should back up a bit. I’ve always had a fairly vague sense of what I wanted to do with life, but I rarely stopped to evaluate exactly how I was getting there. Then, about two years ago, I got tired of bouncing from job to job almost by accident, of working seasonal contracts or in small businesses without any kind of benefits or great opportunity for advancement. I made a plan to move to San Francisco and be much more picky about the kind of offers I would accept.

The fact that I was able to make the change by focusing on smaller goals (i.e. saving money, finding a place to live, job hunting, etc.) proved to myself that I could take charge of my life.

In the last year, I’ve been able to observe a great number of workplaces and take stock of my talents and make some decisions about what I want to do when I grow up. Realizing that I need to set intermediate goals, I’ve decided that there will be resolutions this year. However, all these resolutions come with the caveat: failing to meet these goals does not mean I am a failure. I give myself permission to make mistakes or change my mind.

1. Take the LSAT in June and score at least 165.
2. Take proactive steps to improve my credit rating by the end of the year.
3. Re-start my gym routine and take off the 20 lbs I put back on in 2007.
4. Apply to law schools in the fall.
5. In 2007, I went on one bona-fide, non-ambiguous date. In 2008, I will go on at least three.
6. Maintain a positive outlook at work.
7. I will remember that there is more to my life than work. Much more. Things that are more interesting to discuss with my friends and loved ones.
8. I will take advantage of my fancy new health benefits in 2008 by visiting the dentist and getting routine medical check-ups.
9. Quit smoking.
10. Keep my room cleaner by ending my pack-rat tendencies – toss out old clothes, junk mail and stupid knick-knacks.

So, there’s my list, for what it’s worth.

Filed under: 2007-review, resolutions by Jere Keys