Here's to the last year of my first quarter-century: 6 Month Review

Today I am officially 24 years and 6 months old. I don't normally celebrate this minor milestone, but it seems wise to revisit the goals I set for my 24th year at exactly the half point mark. 

Things to accomplish before I turn 25:

1. Make a blog post at least once a week

Well, I have succeeded at this by default. My posts of late have been fairly sporadic, but I am working on finding a rhythm. In the coming weeks I hope to establish a routine in my personal life which might better enable me to keep up with this. 

2. Read a book a month

Overwhelming success. Which feels fantastic. When I have the time to read, it is completely liberating. I joined a few book clubs to try and keep me on track. Since I set this goal I have read: People of the Book, Olive Kitteridge, Gang Leader for a Day, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Good Omens, Second Nature, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire,  and I am currently reading The Castle. 

3. Work on a project that makes me excited

I can't exactly say that I have accomplished this goal, or if I even know how to accomplish this goal. But I did start volunteering at 826CHI and it has been really enjoyable. It is nice to feel like I am helping in a meaningful way. I have also been looking into volunteering in a community garden. 

4. Find a job that I am good at/enjoy

Currently under review. 

5. Run the Chicago Marathon (technically the day after my birthday)

Gah, epic failure. I missed registration! Aaron is set on running an August marathon in Wisconsin that is considerable cheaper than the Chicago. I just need to keep telling myself that I am too busy not to run.

6. Go to California

Currently under review. I hope this happens regardless.

7. Start a separate savings account

Accomplished! Now I just have to start putting funds into this account.

8. Finish was I start (to the best of my ability)

This is kind of difficult to measure. I am trying. It is difficult to keep mental track of everything I have started to ensure I finish it. I definitely need to finish my website.

9. Show appreciation for friends and family

I would like to say I am succeeding at this but my family and friends would really have to attest to my success. As it turns out two of my uncles and my grandfather will be moving to Arizona in the fall, which makes this goal so much more important. 

10. Don't freak out

So much has happened since I set these goals. Between a car accident, job stress, and financial woes, I haven't exactly been the best about not freaking out. But I am trying to reign it in. Life will go on, regardless of my reaction to these minor set backs. Constantly a work in progress. 

When all is said and done, I would say I am on track for most of these (with the exception of the marathon). I may be setting myself up for disappointment, but I think that if I only accomplish some of these goals, my 25th year will be fantastic and 24 will have been very rewarding.

Here's to the last year of my first quarter-century

This time last week was really tough. I am really trying to stay optimistic through all of it, but I can't help but feel defeated by it. On top of a busy and difficult work weekend, I turned 24. I guess I didn't exactly know where I would be at 24. I think when the economy tanked and I graduated from college, the whole game changed. Not that I had a definitive plan before then. 


And so I have entered into the last year of my first quarter-century on this planet. (A silly milestone really) But because I have such a disdain for New Year's resolutions and feel as though accomplishing something by the time I turn 25 would be very rewarding. I am going starting using my birthday as a means of reevaluating where I am in live and my contributions to this world to date. 

To start lets review the goals I set for myself for this year:

1. Make a blog post at least once a week  I may not have posted once a week but cumulatively I did more than that
2. Read 6 books in 6 months    I am still working on this; but I have the line-up on stand-by
3. Enjoy photographing; make meaningful images; create one 8mm movie     I really stepped this one up; no 8mm (no $$)
4. Build a job worthy portfolio     I don't even know what to say
5. Run the Chicago Half Marathon     DONE!
6. Drink 64 oz of water daily   I was doing really well
7. Collect a family history    The idea is there the execution is still brewing
8. Take advantage of a summer in Chicago     Yeah, it was pretty awesome
9. Go out West; go back East    Badlands National Park; Virginia Beach
10. Don't freak out    Ongoing

Things to accomplish before I turn 25:

1. Make a blog post at least once a week
2. Read a book a month
3. Work on a project that makes me excited
4. Find a job that I am good at/enjoy
5. Run the Chicago Marathon (technically the day after my birthday)
6. Go to California
7. Start a separate savings account
8. Finish was I start (to the best of my ability)
9. Show appreciation for friends and family
10. Don't freak out

Maybe my priorities are in the wrong places. I would like to think that I am making good decisions. Needless to say, 24 has not been off to a great start. Time to turn that around because self-pity is not attractive.

6 Month Recap

Not too long ago (according to the timeline of this blog) I made some Goals for 2010:



I think being 6 months into the year, it is a good time to revisit them and cut what didn't work and add some for the season.

1. Make a blog post at least once a week
2. Read more books (A People's History of the US)
3. Figure out how to keep photographing (at least one photo story).
4. Find a relevant job
5. Get into shape (Chicago Half Marathon)
6. Reconnect and stay connected to friends and family (Family Reunion)
7. Make my apartment a homey and comfortable place to live
8. Go out West; go back East (Dates are set)
9. Make money not something to fear and worry about
10. Set aside self doubt and pity and focus on how to be a better human

Without even acknowledging this list after I wrote it, I managed to stick to it pretty well. But I supposed I didn't set the bar really high.

1. Make a blog post at least once a week
2. Read 6 books in 6 months
3. Enjoy photographing; make meaningful images; create one 8mm movie
4. Build a job worthy portfolio
5. Run the Chicago Half Marathon
6. Drink 64 oz of water daily
7. Collect a family history
8. Take advantage of a summer in Chicago: street fests, Brew and View, movies in the park, concerts, bike rides, swimming, six flags
9. Go out West; go back East
10. Don't freak out

I suppose I'll be back to these in December.

Destroying my goals in '010

Wow, way to post on this once a week...

I suppose I will make up for it in two posts. The first being a recap of snaps from summer/fall/early winter:

Our first meal at the apartment: Chinese takeout and Sierra Nevada while sitting in lawn chairs using a box as a table

We take meetings seriously at work...

It was really nice of Blockbuster to provide tented parking for its customers... (I think I am giving a thumbs up in the car. How lame.)

Who takes a radio faceplate and a book light? Leave me with no means of entertainment while driving why don't you! At least they left my crossword book and copy of Dante but with no means to see them!

Wrapping skills courtesy Emily Janisch.

Correction: Wrapping skills courtesy Aaron J. McGrath.filmmaker

Goodbye 2009

I can't say that I am going to miss 2009. Such a bittersweet year. With my internship now over I need something to fill my time and keep me photographing. I hate New Year's resolutions, but with so many things ending, this feels like a natural time to make a new list of goals for the year and for the decade. I am not promising to keep any of these goals but it is better to "say" them out loud. They have more substance this way.

Goals for 2010

1. Make a blog post at least once a week
2. Read more books
3. Figure out how to keep photographing (at least one photo story)
4. Find a relevant job
5. Get into shape
6. Reconnect and stay connected to friends and family
7. Make my apartment a homey and comfortable place to live
8. Go out West; go back East
9. Make money not something to fear and worry about
10. Set aside self doubt and pity and focus on how to be a better human

These may be hastily written, but they are at the heart of what I feel is missing from my life. Who knows if I will accomplish any of them (I hope at least one). I will revisit this next month (if all goes to plan).

Counting pennies to buy stamps

I am looking back on all the unfinished goals I had for this winter. There are many letters that have gone unwritten, many scarves that were not finished, photos not printed.

I should really get on those.