Current mood:	calm
Entry tags:	design, food, home, life, lists, me, work

No more excuses
I've never been really big on making resolutions when the new year comes by. At least, I don't think so. But I'd also somehow have some goals in my head, coupled with a gut feel of what the year is going to be like.

It's just the same this time around, except now I am consciously going to lay down those goals. Because this year, I do have a resolution: 2006 shall be my year of no excuses. I can only get what I want if I go after it. Thus, I shall study, chase and/or execute those that I am wanting.

Just like any good business person, or war strategist, one must have a plan to achieve those goals --- and I have several that have to do with the different aspects of my life:

1. Keep house. There is a certain art and science to keeping house, especially when there is no helper and you have tons of things occupying your time. I have no idea what it entails because unless I spend most of my days cleaning and tidying up, my house remains quite the imperfectly kept home. So this year, I will create a system that will make my house into the clean home I want it to be.

2. Eat good food at home. This means simply learning how to market, plan a menu and cook meals. I'm not talking about full course dinners, but good, hearty and healthy meals that does not take much time to make. Until now I never really have had a well-stocked fridge since I never know what to do with fresh meat and produce; all I have are well-stocked pasta bottles and other items that comes out of a can, box or packet. This situation will definitely have to change.

3. Write. An hour a day for writing. It doesn't matter what at this point. Later on, I can decide where to take my writing, but I just have to keep on putting words on paper (or word documents) for now.

4. Continue on the path of Corporate Communications and Marketing. Who knew that I could marry a passion for writing with an aptitude for business? Whether I am to stay with my current company, move somewhere else, or strike it out on my own, I will assimilate the tools that I need to make myself reputable in this field. That means actively seeking out media contacts (local, regional and international), refering to books and other resources to further my skills and knowledge in the area, and, of course, staking a claim in the field.

5. Study graphic design. There have been several tutorials and various other tools lying around here that was supposed to help me learn how to work the software needed to create different design projects. This year (and urgently too), I will be studying (at the very least) Flash, Photoshop, After Effects and CSS, and subsequently create a portfolio and start a business.

6. Buy a car. Because it is needed, I shall find a way to get it.


There is a separate list of things I need to do to improve my relationships with the key people in my life, but I've yet to really flesh that out (I swear I am finished with having a soap opera-ish kind of life). The aforementioned are simply goals that I have for myself, most of which I've been postponing for quite a while. Certainly, my relationships with my family and friends shall not be compromised. But they will also not be my scapegoats on why I cannot do things. Hence, if I shall be doing these with my baby attached to me, then be it.

It's going to be an amazing year.