New Year's Resolutions

It is now the year 2007, and as such it is time to come up with resolutions, goals to obtain in the coming year. But before I do that, I would like to do a review of my 2006 resolutions:

1. Read one book per week.
   
   This resolution was intended as a means to edify myself in various disciplines. I read some philosophy, some sociology and a lot of fiction, but I predominantly read Christian works: studies of the church, commentary on Christianity and "spiritual autobiographies" (my favorite, of course, being Blue Like Jazz, which was the first book I read last year).
   
   Did I achieve the resolution? Strictly speaking, no. Not only did I fail at reading one book PER week but I did not even read one book FOR every week of the year. That is, I didn't even read 52 different books.
   
   However, in many respects, I consider this resolution to be successful. Much like we talk about "letter of the law" versus "spirit of the law," I can speak of the spirit behind the resolution. I easily read over 40 books this year, and I consider that an achievement in its own right. I consider myself bettered because of this effort. I learned history from Citizen Soldiers and Team of Rivals. I had my Christian view put in check by Blue Like Jazz and Total Truth. There are of course many other books I read, including finally finishing the Star Wars New Jedi Order series, which strongly dives into philosophical and political implications in the Force and the Jedi.
2. Learn to play the piano.
   
   Unequivocally a failure.
3. Enroll in a four-year college.
   
   A failure. Partly my own fault for not following up on something filed with Decatur, and partly Decatur's fault for mismanagement of the request filed with them. This is hands down the most disappointing reality of 2006.

On to the resolutions for 2007:

1. To read the complete Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas.
   
   Luckily, I wll not need to buy this in a ridiculous set of a dozen or so volumes for a few hundred dollars. On the contrary, it is completely available online, along with countless other theological resources.
2. Once again, I am resolving to learn to play the piano.
   
   This time I might just do it.
3. Start a fairly consistent running/exercise pattern.
   
   I had originally intended to run 30 minutes every week day, but upon review I can say pretty definitively that this will not happen, and even if it did, it doesn't seem entirely practical. As I improve in running, the distance I run in a half hour improves, whereas the calories I burn remain mostly static.
4. Enroll in some four-year college, preferably Seattle U or Gonzaga, fairly local Jesuit schools for which I have much respect academically. Plus, their core curriculum includes theology classes.
   
   This does not mean I will start classes this year, merely that I am enrolled so that I may start classes. Ergo, I may start attending in 2008. But by 2007, my name will be on a student list at a four-year school.
5. Finish a full manuscript of a standalone work.
   
   I have written what seems like dozens of books, mostly for series, most of which I have scrapped or given up on or (in the case of what would undoubtedly be my most successful commercially excepting publishing) handed off to a partner. I intend to finish a complete novel this year that is not part of a series.
6. Begin keeping a journal/diary of sorts.
   
   If you think about it, most famous or respected invidiuals have memoirs or chronicles of their non-public life. C. S. Lewis' letters to friends have been compiled in various volumes. Winston Churchill's World War II chronicles are highly respected. Nietzche's random thoughts became Gay Science. I do not intend to be dishonest. There was a time I was arrogant, and I am past that, but I am still far from perfectly humble and still ambitious. One day, I hope to be famous or at the very least well-respected in whatever field I end up going into. Therefore, I am writing this for the sake of posterity. I am not perfect, I am not humble and I do not intend to disguise it.
7. To, in all things, aim to please God first and society second and myself last.
   
   This may seem like it should be "Number One," but I saved it for last to remind myself that this should always be the end of my actions. Also, it is number seven, God's holy number.

This seems to be a particularly ambitious year for me, not to mention incredibly challenging. I implore anyone who reads this blog to hold me accountable. Check on the status of new applications to colleges. Ask me about my exercise regimen. Call me out when I am acting in a matter unbecoming of a Christian. When we're around a piano, ask me to play something I've learned. (If I haven't learned anything, obviously how embarrassing!) Ask for updates on my writing. Ask about interesting things in my life so I will remember to write them in my journal.