Fall 2008 Goals

I like to begin things on artificially important dates—like the start of a month. It’s no New Years’, but September 1st seems particularly good for starting over. After a summer of fun, it’s time to get serious for Fall. It’s all in how you look at it, I know.

I’ve already confessed to being a perpetual goal maker. Making goals calms me. It makes me feel productive. It assures me I’m not wasting my life. All of these things are especially important when your 25th birthday looms.

I’m often mildly successful, though usually I make goals, go about my business without ever referring to the goals again, and then look back later and say, “Hey, look at that; I kind of did what I said I wanted to.” I guess in my head I always imagine goal accomplishers having only one focus, and that’s just never the reality. The reality is something much messier and far less intense.

My goals for this Fall are quite a bit different than the normal lists I make. Many of these things I’d complete whether I ever made them goals or not. But, putting them up on my screen makes me feel better.

1. Write thesis: I technically have until March to finish this, but I want to get it done this Fall. I meant to do it this summer, but I decided to write a novel instead. I’ve tired of my former topic (it was about God and power), though, so I’ll have to pick a new one.
2. Apply to PhD programs: I really don’t look forward to this. I think I’ve narrowed it down to five schools. It’s going to be a lot of paperwork, a lot of money, and a lot of networking. Oh, and probably a lot of rejection. Though, I’ll be applying to several schools, there are really only two I’m interested in. One of them is across the street from the school I go to now, and the other is in Chicago. For a while, I was dead set on going to Chicago, but staying here seems like the better idea now (though part of me still wants Chicago). As one of my professors told me, “Financial aid will probably make your decision for you” (i.e., I’ll likely choose the program that accepts me and makes getting a PhD most affordable).
3. Finish the novel: So, I finished the story, and I’ve been working on revisions. Or have I? Yeah, off and on, but not with as much diligence as I should. To be honest, it would probably be smartest for me to put the novel on hold for a while to write my thesis and apply to schools. But, I still want to get to it this Fall, so I’m going to have to get that other stuff out of the way!
4. $$$$$$$$: Because I’ll only be taking 4 credits this semester, I’ll be spending most of my time working. My job at the library is 40 hours a week, and I’ll be working for two of my professors as well. I need to save and pay down some debts.
5. Weight loss/fitness: You knew this one was coming. At the New Year, I made a resolution to lose weight. And, holy crap, I did it! For 6 months, I was on plan. I took something of an unintentional break over the summer, but now I’m ready to get back at it. I’m happy with my weight now, but I’d like to keep losing. More importantly, I’d like to get myself back into better shape. I want to swim too. The Olympics made me want to swim.
6. Participate more in the blog community: I started off well, but as soon as I got a couple regular readers, I got lazy about seeking out new blogs to read and getting people to read me. I’m cool with keeping this place small, but I feel like I’m missing out by not exploring the Blogdom (is that a thing?) further.