2009...A Space Odyssey

The first day of 2009 draws to a close and I am somewhat tempted to make a few resolutions. I never do these, and generally look down a little bit on the idea of a "New Year's Resolution". However, there are a few things I have been too lazy to do, and this is as good a time as any to make myself do them.

I want to teach myself several skills I don't have and feel like are necessary to being a better me (feel free to laugh at that, I am.) So, here are some of the things I want to learn, starting with one and working down the list, hopefully only taking a week or two at most for each thing.

1. I want to learn how to not type like a 4 year old and be able to type complete sentences with all my fingers and without having to watch my keyboard. Why? Because I have been typing for like 12 years and haven't progressed at all since third grade.

2. Lockpicking. You just never know when you will need this skill.

3. Knitting. I have short hair, I tend to hang out in cold climates. Therefore, my head needs to stay warm. What better way than by building my own hats?

4. Learn to draw something that looks alive. I have been working on inanimate stuff for a few months now and can make a pretty passable attempt at it, but anything that is alive just looks god-awful when I try and put pencil to paper. I'd really like to be able to do this one.

5. Learn to weld. Again, just like lockpicking, you never know when you could need this. A very handy skill to have, in my opinion.

6. Public speaking. OK, maybe this will go over badly, but I'm terrible at it to begin with, so it can't hurt , right?

7. Skiing. I live less than 18 miles from at least three different ski mountains, and I have been skiing all of one time in my entire life. Seems kinda silly to me. Plus I want to be able to go out West with my friends at some point, cuz it sounds like the most fun thing ever.

That's all that springs into the brain at the moment but not all I want to learn. Try and get better everyday, ya know?

Also, it struck me how much I have been blessed this past year. I did alot in 2008 I hadn't ever done before, some of it was not very wise, but I would do it all again exactly the same way. I feel like I have had lessons at every turn that it would have otherwise taken years for God to show me if I had continued in my habitual day-to-day.So, thanks for that, Father. It has been a great year, maybe the best yet, and I have nothing but the highest hopes for this little ole 2009.


lane