Happy New Year! (And Happy Day to those who celebrate the New Year on a day other than January 1.)
I’ve always found it interesting that we put so much emphasis on turning a new leaf on one specific day. I get it, January 1, is the first day of the new year. But there is no magic to that. Change can come at any time. Right?
This isn’t a dig at anyone who uses Jan. 1 to start something new, because I generally do as well. The only difference for me is I use it more as a reminder and less as a start day. So if in recognition of a new year starting I decided I want to work out more, I don’t wait for the first to start.
With that as a caveat, here are some things I want to work on in 2018.
Be Nicer to People – This is goal number one. I’ll admit this is hard, so it’s my top goal. People tend to remember the mean and nasty things you do more than anything else. Not to say they don’t appreciate your good deeds, but generally people are kind, so the unkind things stands out more. I don’t think of myself as a nasty wasty shunk (to borrow a line from the Grinch), but there is always room to improve, especially for me.
Get Outside More – For an author this can be hard. It is not easy to write outside. It’s also hard to get your kid outside if you’re always behind a computer screen. As all parents know, kids learn a lot by osmosis. What they see and hear from their parents gets assimilated – for better or worse – in their kids. ‘lil q needs to get out more, to run more, to play with things other than an iPad. That has to come from me (and Mike). I’m told I’ll feel better too, so bonus points all around.
Eat better – ‘lil q is a typical 6 year old. If it has chocolate or caramel on it, if it’s deep fried or comes in batter she’s all over it. Green things? Fruit? Tofu? Not so much. (I can’t stand tofu, so she has me with her on that. It has a metal taste to me that makes it unpalatable.) Eating better is more for her than me. What’s that old saying: garbage in, garbage out? She needs better eating habits to grow up healthy. That means we have to adjust as well. And as a side effect, it’s healthy for us too.
Save More – An end of the year issue has put renewed focus on the importance of saving more. We’ve been good savers, but we could be better. With college coming up fast, this is a priority. (Yeah, I know she’s only in Kindergarten, but it feels like yesterday she was born. College will be here before we know it.) My end goal in life (sounds so morbid) is to retire early, write more and play house papa for the family. To get there, we need to save more now. It’s doable and every step we take brings us closer.
Write More – Pretty common for an author. It also ties into the previous one. My end of the year issue put a damper on my creativity, but it’s come back and I need to harness it.
Be More Organized – With the exception of ‘Be Nicer’, this will help with the other goals. (Which might make me nicer in general because I’m less stressed.) My whole life I’ve gotten by because I have a very good memory. Alas, I’m getting older. Not to say I’ve noticed it slipping yet, but being realistic it will happen. This is the time to start relying on something more tangible. Habits take time to form, it’s time to start forming.
That’s five from me. I’ll try to provide updates during the year to check in with my progress. (Be kind, change is hard.) I’d love to hear some from readers. Maybe it will inspire me to add to my list.
Peace, much love and a happy New Year to all!
Andrew Q. Gordon wrote his first story back when yellow legal pads, ball point pens were common and a Smith Corona correctable typewriter was considered high tech. Adapting with technology, he now takes his MacBook somewhere quiet when he wants to write.
Since devouring The Lord of the Rings as a preteen, he has been a fan of all things fantastical. His imagination has helped him create works of high fantasy, paranormal thrills and touch of the futuristic. He also writes the occasional contemporary story.
He currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his husband of twenty-two years. Together they are raising their pre-school age daughter and three dogs. Andrew tries to squeeze writing time in around his most important jobs, being husband and ‘Papa.’ Along with teaching how to kick a soccer ball or ride a scooter, he has become fluent in cartoon characters and children’s books. To find out more about Andrew, his writing and his family, follow him on his website or on Facebook.
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website: www.andrewqgordon.com
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email: andrew@andrewqgordon.com
Books:
The Last Grand Master: (Champion of the Gods–Book 1)
The Eye and the Arm: (Champion of the Gods–Book 2)
Kings of Lore and Legend: (Champion of the Gods–Book 3)
Child of Night and Day (Champion of the Gods—Book: 4)
Self published:
Happy New Year to you too, Andrew. Those are very sensible goals. Good luck with them!