Is that the time already?
New Years Eve 2006. What self conscious blog writer wouldn’t want to capitalise and put a few thoughts down on this most cliched of evenings.
People say the year goes fast, or the year goes slow. I’m not sure how quickly this year went, but i know that it’s now gone. Which is bittersweet, really. I could write pages on all the cool stuff that has happened, all the inspiring moments, the private moments, the funny moments, the melancholy moments. Couldn’t we all.
But can you really sum up a year?
Isn’t a year more about you. Who you have become. How the events have changed you. What will you take with you into 2007 that wasn’t with you in 2006.
Exactly one year ago I wrote a blog entry about how I was about to start the process of writing a feature. Well, I’ve managed to not write a single word. That’s quite an achievement! I’m not sure how that’s happened, but I think one thing I’ll take with me into 2007 is a determination to finish what I start. Take less on, and finish it to the best of my abilities. If I could live that one resolution, I know that 2007 will take care of itself.
American Splendor was on TV last night – a fantastically good film. In it, there’s a lovely comic strip in which Harvey Peckar reflects to himself “another short term goal accomplished”. I write endless lists of things to do, but they all seem very short term. I have a knack of completing those short term goals, but rarely do we sit down and decide on long term goals.
Maybe because they are so intangible. I’m not talking about a long term goal like “I’ll go on holiday this year” or “I will write a book”, but more “I will make a difference” or – in my case – “I will finish what I start”. They are long term goals, as they realign your life around an ideal that you strive for. I don’t think you can even say they are completed. But having made a number of films now, I know it’s the process thats the reward, not the DVD at the end of it.
As the New Year approaches, it’s these long term goals that I am focussing on. Sure, I can get up and go for a walk every morning. Go to the gym more. Cook fresh food five nights a week. These are all great thinks to stick on a list and tick off.
But a long term goal is one that realigns who we are with who we want to be. Perhaps the best place to start this heady challenge is to examine the gap. Why aren’t we the people we want to be, and what is stopping us from closing the gap between Me v1.0 and Me v2.0.? Surely it is long terms goals like this that will have the greatest effect on the challenges the world faces at the moment: politically, socially, environmentally.
So here’s to closing that gap. May everyone strive to be better person in 2007. For the good of themselves, and the world around them.
Good luck!
Now I’m not a harsh man. Not a critical man. Not a man who would usually pour scorn upon the emotional outpourings of a Nuneaton expat, swirling the brandy dregs around his tear-stained tea mug and indulging in some year-end sentimentality. But Shepherd, by all that is holy … you have never sounded more the gaylord.
“May everyone strive to be better person in 2007. For the good of themselves, and the world around them.” I swear to fucking God when I read that I nearly threw up.
Love to Jimma.
Collins
Crikey, I nearly got sucked into that – Ricardo do you now take us into a room with velvet curtains to do some lifestyle clapping and whooping?
My new years resolution is to complain more. There are wrongs in this world that need righting. I started with Virgin Atlantic (got £50) and now am moving onto Cadburys. They failed to put in the slip of paper that tells you what is what and hence I was playing russian roulette trying to avoid the caramels. A nasty experience.
Oh my giddy Aunt. I returned from the Land of sheep and Welsh folk yesterday to be held up at the worst train station in the Midlands (yes it has stiff competition) – Nuneaton. As I waited for the Diesel engine to be robbed by the locals I thought of my ol’ mucka Dick Kwocker with his sharp wit and manly charms. I wondered how he was, how was the lovely Jimma? This morn Collins directs me to Dick Kwocker dot com. Rich – I am, quite frankly, more than a little surprised at your comments. These are things best kept in yer head son, we still love you but you must get a grip. 2007 – a year to correct one’s gaylordness.
Personally I think Mr Shepherd is a very wise and thoughtful man. I agree with him and his comments whole-heartedly. I also think that he is a very attractive man with deep, penetrating eyes.
Hetero-sexual Chris.