Rearview Mirror: November 2011
Earlier this year, I set several goals for myself that I want to accomplish before the year is out. Previously, I would routinely set goals and then hope to accomplish them. Sometimes I did and sometimes I didn’t. But what I didn’t do is follow up periodically to see if I was making any progress. That changes this year.
Here is a list of the goals I have set for myself along with notes on the progress, if any, I made on the goal during November. The majority of the goals were detailed in my Making Plans for 2011 post from earlier this year. I’ve added a few goals to the list since then as well.
You can find updates from previous months here:
- January 2011
- February 2011
- March 2011
- April 2011
- May 2011
- June 2011
- July 2011
- August 2011
- September 2011
- October 2011
My productivity fell off a cliff in November. I wish I had a good excuse, but I really don’t. I was still traveling a bit and I was a little under the weather on a couple of different occasions during the month, but there’s no one thing that prevented me from being productive.
I think I’m suffering through a bit of a malaise at the moment (Thanks to former President Jimmy Carter for that great word). I’m going through a period of re-evaluation. As I said in my previous blog post, I’m currently taking some time to figure out what I really want in my life right now. I don’t plan on making any big announcements any time soon. Instead, I plan on using my time to look closely and deeply at my life and figure out what is working and what isn’t.
Although not much happened in November, here’s what I did accomplish:
Write a Novel — Although I did a little writing on the novel, toward the end of the month I put it on the back burner and instead concentrated on writing a few short stories. After the first of the year, I plan on publishing a three volume set of short stories. I’ll talk more about this in the future.
Continue With Plans to Race in the Rolex 24 at Daytona — The racing season is over for 2011, but planning is in the works for 2012. I’m in the process of getting our two cars ready and locking down drivers for the 11-12 race schedule I plan on running next year. For more on my racing endeavors, check out my racing blog.
Learn to Play Guitar — I had my final guitar lesson in June. CJ Vaughn, my guitar teacher, is terrific, but I just haven’t found time to attend the lessons or practice like I should. I may still try to learn, but if I do, it will be by using a DVD or Internet-based lessons.
Learn to Play Piano — I had planned on starting on this goal by now. However, with the time I am spending on writing and my travel schedule, I just haven’t found time to pursue it. This goal might be one I push back until next year.
Kayak the Length of the St. John’s River — I had hoped to make a run at this goal during October, but that didn’t happen. I’m going to be tied up with work and family matters during much of the rest of the year and simply won’t have time to get it done this year. Maybe in 2012.
Circumnavigate Wisconsin by Bicyle or Foot — This goal is officially changed to hiking the length of the Ice Age Trail (IAT). That’s 1,000 miles across Wisconsin. I visited the IAT offices in Cross Plains, WI in July and purchased the maps and companion guide for the trail. I’m currently in the process of breaking the trail down into daily hikes. That’s the easy part. The hard part will be figuring out the logistics (drop off, pick up, where to sleep) of such a goal.
Start the Adoption Process — I hate to sound overly pessimistic, but I just don’t see this goal coming to fruition. I hate that because adopting a child is something I have felt driven to do for many, many years. It is more than just something that would have been nice to do. I feel an obligation based on my personal beliefs to adopt a child, so failing to do so feels very disingenuous and even hypocritical. I can live with failing to achieve some of the other goals I set for myself, but this one hurts me to my very soul.
Apply for an MFA in Creative Writing — I applied for the MFA in January and received word at the beginning of March that I had not been accepted into the program. During November, I seriously considered applying to several programs, but in the end I decided that I already have the tools I need to write novels, short stories, etc. I really wanted to attend classes to improve my writing, but I’m concerned that I’m just using pursuit of an MFA as a convenient reason not to do the writing I know I should be doing right now. In the end, I decided not to pursue an MFA in 2012.
Launch Short Stories Website — Accomplished! Check it out. Update: The site is currently not working. I’ve done nothing with the site since August or September, and I don’t think I’ll be relaunching it.
Launch Other Internet Businesses — Nothing to report on this one.
Read the 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century — November was the first month that I failed to read one of the books from the 100 best novels of the 20th century list. Instead, I read Stephen King’s latest novel entitled 11-22-63. It’s really long, but I really enjoyed it. I never thought I’d be a Stephen King fan (he’s just not my style), but this is the third novel of his I have read and I’ve more or less enjoyed all of them. I’ll try to cross off two of the novels from the 100 best novels list in December.
