I’m one of those crazy guys that feels that if I’m going to have a time period thrust upon us to measure our age, that I should still be able to set some of the ground rules myself, including when to look back and take stock in what’s been going on and what’s coming down the pike. A couple of years ago I decided to start setting goals instead of resolutions and I chose to start doing it on my birthday every year instead of sharing the headache of doing so with a hangover on New Year’s Day watching whatever was actually decent on television that day.I started setting my goals for the year around my birthday after having two sub par years of life the day after. During that timeframe, I had a falling out with a person that I still consider one of the best friends I’ve ever had and an ex-girlfriend that I thought was “the one.” Now, the interesting thing about these events were that they each occurred after celebrating two of the more enjoyable birthdays that I’d had up to that point. The letdown factor after the second year was enough to throw me into the “whoa is me” stage that those that know me recognize as not very productive or pleasant. I figured the only way to get out of it was to set realistic goals that were possible to achieve.So now I sit down with a yellow pad of paper and spell out what goals I have for the next year of my life, using New Year’s as a check-in point for me. Let me not fail to mention the glass of scotch on the rocks that accompanies this process. They can’t be silly broad goals either; they’re only allowed if it is necessary. I only allow myself one of those types of goals every year. This year’s process was delayed slightly because of Hurricane Katrina. Life has settled down enough now to take the process one step further this year: posting this list out here on the web for all to critique and in some cases pass judgment on. It should make it interesting though. This has become one of the more important things that I do every year. This year that overall goal was really easy to come up with, “To do whatever I need to do to sensibly enjoy happiness in my life.” Life is not supposed to be perfect. My hope is that I can do my part to make it livable and enjoyable without being reckless. So, what are this year’s goals? Here they are in no specific order:- To return to my playing weight in time for the Savannah River Bridge Run in early December & to run my PR in both Savannah and Charleston
- To visit one new city each month
- Make the best effort to stay in contact with the people I care about
- Write one short story and attempt to get it published
- Be able to seriously look at purchasing a home by next September
We’ll check in around January to see how it’s going…Another thing I’ve been thinking about as I’ve written this is how has it changed my luck for the day after my birthday? Let’s see…Two years ago Bets and I started a 10-day road trip that took us through almost every state east of the Mississippi River. Last year I got a phone call from Birmingham telling me that I was being offered the job that I now have. This year the best part was before when I got a chance to hang out and have people over to the loft that I never thought I’d have a chance to live in.I think it’s definitely changed my perspective on life, letting me seize the moment rather than wait for the moment to happen to me. Strange question to ask, but how easy has it been to make changes in your lives for the better? Have they actually been good for you if you’ve attempted them?
It’s been two weeks since our nation’s latest tragedy unfolded before our eyes with images and stories abound on the Internet and television. This one was much more devastating for our psyche since it also raised the specters of problems that most of the country felt had been solved by the sweeping signature of President Johnson several decades before and made us question whether or not our country is prepared to handle national disasters.
Katrina decided to suck out a window pane from my second story loft and take away my electricity for two days, frying the air conditioner in the process. There are many people that would have hoped that what Bets and I went through was the worst of their problems. I cannot blame any one government entity for the catastrophe that resulted; there was some form of failure at every level. We should not be concerned with finger pointing until we’ve dealt with aiding those that have lost their worldly possessions and need help restoring some level of stability to their lives.
Government creates laws to be followed. This is not to say that many will choose to follow them. One would hope that it would not take a law to have people treat their fellow man with dignity and respect. You would have also hoped that it would not have taken a hurricane making landfall as a category 4 to shine a light on the two poorest congressional districts in the United States and problems that many in this country like to pretend do not exist.
I have always been amazed at our country’s ability to rise up and meet a challenge, however devastating the causes of it may be. I hope our country is ready to rise up and maintain a sustained attack on the biggest war has affected our shores for longer than any other: the war on poverty. There have been many soldiers in this battle, some of whom we’ve lost along the way before it was their time. There is a need to remember the charge being led by Dr. King; there is a need to focus on providing legitimate long term solutions that allow for the hole of poverty to be climbed out of.
The biggest concern that exists right now this is that we are dealing with the short term problem (Katrina evacuees) now so long as the cameras are focused on the devastation. I hope that we do not neglect the problems that already existed in our towns and cities before Katrina. Let us not forget the soup kitchens, homeless shelters and existing programs set up to help people at this time. If charitable organizations say that they have received enough for their needs, check around the corner and make sure that the needs of the local organizations are being met. Take some time out and help area children if you can.
Let us not waste this chance to put the country’s best foot forward. Our fellow citizens affected by the storm have lost a great deal, however they have given America a great gift; a chance to rectify the situation for many. Let us hope that this opportunity is seized and not wasted.
