2009 Part II Begins Tomorrow
Every year we celebrate New Year’s on the 1st of January looking at the year ahead with great wonder. We make all these plans about what we want this year to include, to represent. We make all kinds of resolutions only to break them within a week and then we either just abandon them or just completely forget about them. And we wait until the next year to start dreaming big again.
Well 2009 has reached its midpoint. Today is the last day of the sixth month of the year. Tomorrow we technically begin the second half of the year. How about we take this moment to revisit those dreams we abandoned just under six months ago.
The beginning of my year began true enough to my dreams. I chose this to be the year I run my first marathon and I did! Of course the marathon was 11 days into the year, and we had already paid for it and the accommodations that went with it, so it was easy to not overlook this particular goal. My second goal though has pretty much gone by without a second thought, so how about I give it that second thought now. I have always wanted to write a book. It’s on my bucket list (right after running a marathon… oh yeah I did that one already). One always figures that the bucket will remain sturdy enough for a while, and hey having just checked one off the list, maybe I should just relax for a bit, right? And then something like the death of the Great Gloved One happens, and you begin to wonder if your own minutes are numbered. Maybe if I want to write a book, I should just write it now, huh? So tomorrow I will begin the second half of 2009 with the goal of writing my book. I already know what it’s going to be on. Heck I pitched it to Dania on the way up to Orlando to run my marathon (only to have her tell me to just put it on paper… she would much rather read it, she said, then for me to recite it to her. I wasn’t sure if she was telling me to shut up, or if she was stressing the fact that she just loves to read, the librarian that she is… I’ll hold on to the latter). So, now I just need to begin to write.
But I can’t stop there. I have to have my backups. For one, I’ve always wanted to write and record a song. Just one. It doesn’t need to be a hit. I just want to do ONE SONG, and do it right. I have the contacts to do a decent job. I have musician friends. I’m in the summer, so I do have a little bit of time. So, now is the time to do it!! I have plenty of lyrics written over the last twenty years. I just have to put some to music, preferably with someone who knows something about music. I’m not going to pretend that the best result will come from me doing this alone, so I definitely will collaborate. And I hope the end result will be something I will be satisfied with.
And as the backup to the backup, I have been for two years now planning on making some interactive math tutoring videos to help high school students in a number of subjects. I have seen over the years that many teachers do not do the material they are teaching any justice. They present it, but they don’t TEACH it. They assume that because they understand the material well, then simply showing students how THEY do it, the students would understand what is going on. I have learned that if you get into the student’s mind and present it in a way that they perceive it, then they could better understand the material they are trying to learn… and this is especially true in mathematics. This means that certain topics need to be presented in a number of different ways to make sure that each student’s learning style is covered. There is not one right way of teaching things in math, though there may end up being one correct result. I am making it my job to show students how they could reach the same correct results to different problems, using a variety of methods. The trick is to ACTUALLY MAKE the videos. That will be goal #3 for 2009 PART II.
Now, I’m choosing three goals, knowing that accomplishing just one would be success. Anything else would be a bonus. But at least it will give me something to strive for. And when one is done, hopefully I won’t sit back and enjoy the moment for TOO long, and I can get on my feet again to start the next one. By the way, did I mention that I am planning on running two long races in the next seven months AND plan to get back into the shape I was in last August. Well, if you’ve been reading my blogs you knew this. What you didn’t know is that I’ve been procrastinating a bit on both accounts. A lot on my plate, huh? Maybe. But with a little time management, I’m sure I could get a lot done. Just a warning. When I start writing my book, don’t be surprised if my blogs start becoming a bit scarce for a while. But don’t assume that automatically. If you don’t see a blog for a while, feel free to shout out to me to make sure there is a good reason. I don’t want to get unnecessarily lazy.
So, let this be a challenge to all, not just me. July 1, 2009. The first day of the second part of 2009. RESOLVE TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL!!
June 30th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I look forward to editing your book. Feel free to send me chapters as you go along for feedback.