Looking Forward
I don't tend to make New Year's resolutions or set goals for the year or that sort of thing. I do remember one year, pledging to have more fun. I think that worked out okay, but usually, it seems like an effort in frustration. Especially after 2020, everyone should know that circumstances can change suddenly and require a whole new plan in the middle of the year, so I don't think a few promises made at the start of the year are too important.
Indeed, when I've asked people about their resolutions, I think I've heard more people than normal tell me that they aren't making any. I have heard a couple of fun ones though. One, from a five year old, "I want to get more cheetah powers." I'm impressed that he has any cheetah powers to begin with and hope, for his parents' sake, that the powers he has aren't the claws. The second, "Something strange and wonderful is about to happen", isn't really a resolution or goal. It's sort of a wish or perhaps a way of viewing events instead, but it has a certain optimism in it that I admire.
As for me, I'm not sure what 2021 will hold. Even if it goes as expected, the vaccine won't really have rolled out widely until late summer or early fall, so I'm not really planning on going on any trips or expecting much in the way of local events until then. Maybe some of the normal summer events will still happen and hopefully even before then case numbers will drop enough to let me feel comfortable going out to eat again. I'm not aware of any other big events (weddings or births) that are coming up, so I'm expecting a pretty quiet year.
On the other hand, one Instagram filter told me that I should expect heartbreak in 2021. That would be exciting. Well, not the actual heartbreak part, but the lead up to it. I think it's pretty unlikely. Even if we weren't in the midst of a pandemic, the majority of relationships fizzle out too quickly for that. Since I sometimes like to complain about being single, I should probably set an actual goal in this area. Nothing I can think of feels simultaneously achievable and like meaningful progress. I suppose I could give the dating apps another chance, ask my friends if they know anyone, and ask out that cute woman at the coffee shop.
When I tried it again, the filter told me I'd be homeless. That seems even less likely than being heartbroken. So many terrible things would have to happen that it just seems impossible, but I should probably tackle some projects around the house. Perhaps most pressing is the back deck that is rotting away. It's not really a deck so much as a patio made from deck material, so I want to replace it replaced with paving stones. I'd also really like to do something about the windows and the bathroom. That's already pretty ambitious.
Unfortunately, the filter didn't provide me with any other inspiration. There were a lot of very middle of the road things like you'll be happy or delusional, but the extreme possibilities are more fun to think about. Give me death and dismemberment not a papercut. Not that I want that in my real life. Two hospital visits in two years is enough. Even if everything goes well, I'll have three or four doctor's appointments, a couple of dentist visits, an eye exam this year. Those are all normal checkups and hopefully none of them find anything more serious. I'm already eating reasonably sensibly and getting plenty of exercise, so I'm not sure what else there is to do on the health front anyway. Well, I guess I could floss more often.
I suppose there's also travel plans (go somewhere, if possible, sometime this year), hobbies (do more fun stuff), and work (less please), but I've rambled on long enough. Maybe I'll write a midyear update and talk about other things then or maybe I'll just ignore this post and pretend it never happened.
