Hulavuta
keeps the varmints on the run
Every year around the same time, we get a New Years resolution thread where everyone shares their goals for the new year. But we never really get any follow-ups on how well those things went. Since resolutions are pretty notoriously dropped a few months in, I'm curious to see how well everyone kept up their resolutions and which resolutions had to be dropped.
Some people "don't believe" in waiting for the New Year to start something new, which is totally fine. So if you started any kind of commitment or long-term goal this year, even if it wasn't around New Years, feel free to share how that went (or is going).
I'll paste over mine from the thread last year:
1) Become more fluent in Vietnamese.
Unfortunately, one I neglected. It's one I try every year and never really manage, but that just means I'll give it another shot this year! I was recently introduced to some good resources by my cousin, who is also trying.
2) Finally learn to read music.
This is one that I actually achieved and then actually dropped off a bit as time went on. I don't remember all 12 key signatures anymore, and I didn't learn every single time signature. But I would say it's been achieved to a satisfactory level, even though I still have a bit more to go.
3) Compose at least 3 pieces of at least 12 measures each.
This one I ended up actually revising a bit; I wanted to focus on making 1 full-length arrangement of an existing piece first rather than composing original stuff. That way I have a complete piece, and it's a better practice of #2. Unfortunately, I am not done as of this year, but I do hope to finish in January.
4) Be able to do 6 pullups at a time.
This one definitely fell off. I think I can actually do fewer pullups than when the year started. lol
5) Get employed.
This is perhaps the most important on the list, and I'm happy to say it was achieved. I started doing substitute teaching just to keep busy, but I only worked for 2 days before getting an interview for the real job I wanted, teaching community college. I started teaching this semester. I'm amazed I got it so quickly, but I'm also grateful.
6) Finally get started on my novel/serial.
I mentioned in the original thread that this one was a lower priority, and yeah, it kinda did take a backseat.
There was one goal that I decided starting in February, and that was to learn one new piece/song on piano each week. "Learn" was defined as me basically reducing it to the melody and chord progression and then playing it as my own arrangement as simple or complex as I could play. There was only one where I tried to stick almost verbatim to the original arrangement (Lightning's Theme) since it was a (mostly) piano piece to begin with (and it took me two weeks! lol).
I did miss weeks and tried to make up for them later; if I'm doing my math right I do have the correct number of pieces for all of the weeks, minus one vacation. Here is the complete list, if you were curious!
Anyway, I am very interested to see how you guys did last year. It ended up being about a 50 - 50 for me, which is not bad at all! Always next year to keep trying, after all.
EDIT: Feel free to talk about next year as well, since there doesn't seem to be a thread for that yet.
Some people "don't believe" in waiting for the New Year to start something new, which is totally fine. So if you started any kind of commitment or long-term goal this year, even if it wasn't around New Years, feel free to share how that went (or is going).
I'll paste over mine from the thread last year:
1) Become more fluent in Vietnamese.
Unfortunately, one I neglected. It's one I try every year and never really manage, but that just means I'll give it another shot this year! I was recently introduced to some good resources by my cousin, who is also trying.
2) Finally learn to read music.
This is one that I actually achieved and then actually dropped off a bit as time went on. I don't remember all 12 key signatures anymore, and I didn't learn every single time signature. But I would say it's been achieved to a satisfactory level, even though I still have a bit more to go.
3) Compose at least 3 pieces of at least 12 measures each.
This one I ended up actually revising a bit; I wanted to focus on making 1 full-length arrangement of an existing piece first rather than composing original stuff. That way I have a complete piece, and it's a better practice of #2. Unfortunately, I am not done as of this year, but I do hope to finish in January.
4) Be able to do 6 pullups at a time.
This one definitely fell off. I think I can actually do fewer pullups than when the year started. lol
5) Get employed.
This is perhaps the most important on the list, and I'm happy to say it was achieved. I started doing substitute teaching just to keep busy, but I only worked for 2 days before getting an interview for the real job I wanted, teaching community college. I started teaching this semester. I'm amazed I got it so quickly, but I'm also grateful.
6) Finally get started on my novel/serial.
I mentioned in the original thread that this one was a lower priority, and yeah, it kinda did take a backseat.
There was one goal that I decided starting in February, and that was to learn one new piece/song on piano each week. "Learn" was defined as me basically reducing it to the melody and chord progression and then playing it as my own arrangement as simple or complex as I could play. There was only one where I tried to stick almost verbatim to the original arrangement (Lightning's Theme) since it was a (mostly) piano piece to begin with (and it took me two weeks! lol).
I did miss weeks and tried to make up for them later; if I'm doing my math right I do have the correct number of pieces for all of the weeks, minus one vacation. Here is the complete list, if you were curious!
Feb 7: Wicked Child
Feb 14: Tifa's Theme
Feb 21: On Our Way
Feb 28: None. :(
March 7th: Bullet Drive
March 15th - Gourmet Race
March 22nd: JENOVA
March 29th: Fisherman's Horizon
April 5th: In the Past (Tsuioku)
April 11th: Reincarnation
April 19th: The Promise
April 26th: Simon's Theme
May 3rd: Not Alone
May 10th: Lightning's Theme
May 17th: Took me two weeks to learn the above :'(
May 24th: The Moon AND Edge of Dawn
May 31st: The Ecstasy of Gold
June 6th: Windmill Hills
June 13th: Wishes
June 20th: Noel's Theme
June 27th: Super Mario World Overworld
July 4th: Garfont Day
July 11th: Lazy Afternoons
July 18th: Somnus - vacation this week
July 25th: Somnus
August 1st: Rydia's Theme
August 8th: Aoi
August 16th: The Amazing Ryu
August 23rd: Shivre City
August 30th: Green Greens
September 6th: None :(
September 13th: Mer Stadium
September 20th: Go Go Naruto!
September 27th: Futurama Theme
October 3rd: None :(
October 10th: Straight Ahead AND Butter Building
October 17th: The Amazon
October 24th: Heart Wave
November 1st: Trail on Powdery Snow
November 8th: None :(
November 15th: Mirai e Tsuzuku Kaze
November 21st: Sandgem Town + Funeral Home
November 28th: Sunyshore City
December 5th: Kimi ni Todoke
December 12: Final Transmission & The Real Folk Blues
December 19th: You Can't Go Back
December 26th: Vivid Dream & The Grand Finale
Feb 14: Tifa's Theme
Feb 21: On Our Way
Feb 28: None. :(
March 7th: Bullet Drive
March 15th - Gourmet Race
March 22nd: JENOVA
March 29th: Fisherman's Horizon
April 5th: In the Past (Tsuioku)
April 11th: Reincarnation
April 19th: The Promise
April 26th: Simon's Theme
May 3rd: Not Alone
May 10th: Lightning's Theme
May 17th: Took me two weeks to learn the above :'(
May 24th: The Moon AND Edge of Dawn
May 31st: The Ecstasy of Gold
June 6th: Windmill Hills
June 13th: Wishes
June 20th: Noel's Theme
June 27th: Super Mario World Overworld
July 4th: Garfont Day
July 11th: Lazy Afternoons
July 18th: Somnus - vacation this week
July 25th: Somnus
August 1st: Rydia's Theme
August 8th: Aoi
August 16th: The Amazing Ryu
August 23rd: Shivre City
August 30th: Green Greens
September 6th: None :(
September 13th: Mer Stadium
September 20th: Go Go Naruto!
September 27th: Futurama Theme
October 3rd: None :(
October 10th: Straight Ahead AND Butter Building
October 17th: The Amazon
October 24th: Heart Wave
November 1st: Trail on Powdery Snow
November 8th: None :(
November 15th: Mirai e Tsuzuku Kaze
November 21st: Sandgem Town + Funeral Home
November 28th: Sunyshore City
December 5th: Kimi ni Todoke
December 12: Final Transmission & The Real Folk Blues
December 19th: You Can't Go Back
December 26th: Vivid Dream & The Grand Finale
Anyway, I am very interested to see how you guys did last year. It ended up being about a 50 - 50 for me, which is not bad at all! Always next year to keep trying, after all.
EDIT: Feel free to talk about next year as well, since there doesn't seem to be a thread for that yet.
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