Week two actually ended about a week ago, which perhaps demonstrates that I still struggle to stay on course. The problem seems, at least at this early stage, is that resolutions have a nature of being infectious. Not necessarily to other people, though that may be happening as well, but rather to myself. After all, what could possibly better than actually committing to, starting and continuing to engage in a new resolution? Why, two resolutions of course! And what better than two? Obviously, three.
After all, if we have the capacity to make one change, why can we not make more? Truth be told, I actually did start another resolution. This was a long standing one. As fate would have it, the opportunity to take it on came up unexpectedly. Even more so, my wife wanted to participate as well, so it became a team effort. This one is called “The Daily Walk” and is a program designed to read through the entire Bible in one year, by reading a few, specific chapters each day, with a weekly group gathering to discuss.
Now, one could argue I could consider that one of my three readings, but that seemed to me like double dipping. Besides, the nature of the reading would change. At times, the reading will be more essay like. At others, more like a story and still others, nothing less than poetry. So, no, I’ll keep each goal separate.
But that means, I’m doing TWO new resolutions, so maybe a third…? You see the dilemma. I’m right back to wanting a 27-hour day.
And yet, I hold out hope. I’m keeping pace, even if somewhat wobbly. I do manage to get all my reading in (at least on weekly average) and even my weekly writing. In fact, it is already starting to pay the dividends I promised my doubtful wife. Writing number two, a short story, or more properly, the short start of what will probably be a longer story, has already added ideas and a little fire to the video game idea.
I had hoped this would happen but had not expected an idea to pop so soon, nor did I expect my family to collectively jump on the idea. But there it is. I even started some of the coding. It’s like I stepped forward by first stepping sideways.
Week three is rapidly coming to a close so we will see how things progress. I am hopeful, even slightly elated, yay though cautious. However, regardless of what the future brings, here is my Week 002 Report Card:
Poetry (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
- The Village Blacksmith
- It Is Not Always May
- The Rainy Day
- God’s Acre
- To the River Charles
- The Goblet of Life
- Excelsior
Essays (Wendell Berry)
- The Hidden Wound (chapter 5)
- The Hidden Wound (chapter 6)
- The Hidden Wound (chapter 7)
- The Hidden Wound (chapter 8)
- Think Little
- Discipline and Hope (part 1)
- Discipline and Hope (part 2)
Short Stories (O. Henry)
- The Return of the Songster
- Book Reviews
- Guessed Everything Else
- In Mezzotint
- The Barber talks
- The Ghost That Came to Old Angles
- Pursuing Ideals