Post #543: My Resolutions for 2011

It’s taken me a while to finally settle on what all of my resolutions will be for this year. I had so many to choose from, but I had to narrow it down to what I could realistically accomplish within a span of 365 days. This might possibly be one of my longest personal posts to date on my site. Here it goes…

What will happen:

• Stay the person I ended 2010 as - Last year I finally found a good balance between all of my qualities, both positive and negative. I’ve really learned how to mellow out, as well as show some sarcasm while actually sounding “sarcastic.” I’ve learned it’s ok to be blunt when you are truly passionate about the point you are trying to make, and when you honestly feel you are morally and ethically right. People may not like this sometimes, but even though truth hurts, truth is always beneficial in the long run. I’ve also learned that hard work does eventually pay off, even though it may take years for the right person to notice the effort you put into the tasks you are given. I will never know if that day would have eventually come in retail, but it sure has in the military, and I still believe I made the best career choice I could have made. Which brings me to my next resolution…
• Re-enlisting – A year ago I wouldn’t have listed this as a priority of mine. After my Mother passed away, it took several months for me to fully realize that the best way to honor her would be to make her proud by doing my absolute best at the career I chose for myself. Luckily, I have a career I really enjoy. The variety this field gives me is more than what most other careers out there can offer. Sure, this base is slower than just about any other base in the Air Force, but the importance of the job doesn’t change because of that. My Father and I always joke about how retail chains don’t even trust you with a simple pricing gun, but the military will trust you with millions of dollars worth of weapons and equipment on a daily basis, and quite often, without supervision. It’s a responsibility I do take seriously, but to add to my first point above, I like to take it seriously while finding a good balance between seriousness and other positive qualities. I will be re-enlisting this Spring.
• Starting an exclusive social club – At the end of last year, I was working hard at creating some sort of group or club that would attract people with three specific qualities; those who were independent, those who had full control over their own personal lives, and those who had worked hard to achieve excellence within their personal lives. The planning aspect of this venture is over, and the group will be launched this year. While an attempt to launch it at the beginning of Winter failed, it was because there was simply no time to advertise and get the word out. This year will be different, and barring a deployment or other unforseen circumstances, I.C.E. will be fully launched.
• Buying a new vehicle – This one might sound off-the-wall compared to some of the other resolutions, but this year – actually this Spring – I plan on buying my first ever brand new vehicle. Buying a vehicle is an achievement, but buying one brand new is better. I couldn’t force myself to part with my truck last year, but this year it will happen.
• Improving my fitness – Last year, the military revamped the fitness requirements. Although I did better on my last test score wise, I’ve actually grown to like working out. It’s a good boost on days I don’t feel motivated to do much else. The feeling I get after completing a hard workout routine is better than sitting on the couch thinking about how it would feel. I don’t really have specific goals in mind, but you don’t really need specific goals in order to simply start a routine and stick to it long-term. The key to fitness isn’t forcing yourself to do five more situps than the day before – it’s to simply stay active and move regularly, be it weight lifting, walking, running, or anything else that doesn’t involve becoming ever-larger while cramming cake into your mouth by the shovel full.

What might happen:

• Making a real estate purchase – This is the last resolution - and also the only non-guaranteed one. This one can be taken a couple of different ways, but here’s what I’ve got going for me at the moment. This year I will certainly be moving out of the dormitory and moving to an apartment. Maybe on my own, maybe with a roommate, but either way it will happen. Here’s where it gets interesting. I also am quietly shopping around for actual real estate. I’ve been actively researching timeshares around the country. After separating the reputable property agents from the scam artists, I’ve decided that it will be a worthwhile investment should I choose to do so. I’ve put this as the last resolution to fulfill, because it’s not a priority. If my other resolutions are fulfilled, then I will move on to this one. If not, so be it, and it can wait one more year.

With all of that said, good luck to you if you’ve made any resolutions for this year.