2008 Goal Checkup

2008 is almost over, so let’s have a look at how I did on my goals!

• Write and record a song every other week

  This one I ended up giving up on early in the year, but for good reason, so I’m not too upset about it.

• Draw something every other week

  Same as the last one. (See the link.)

• Read 15 books

  I just finished Blink, the final book on my list, tonight, so consider this one done in full! A few books ended up being “skimmers” but I made my way through them. Plus, I ended up adding a book, out of necessity, so it sorta evens out.

• Create a personal, dynamic website

  You’re looking at it right now. DONE.

• Get my passport

  No luck on this one. I got halfway through, in that I have my photos and the paperwork. I just haven’t filled it out and turned it in. No excuses, I failed on that one.

• Refurnish my bedroom

  Thanks to moving this summer, this one ended up being easier since I sort of inherited a desk. But I did get a CD/book shelf and a big, comfy queen-sized bed, so I’m calling this one good.

• Organize, clean and throw away stuff

  I’m calling this one good too, though it’s a bit hard to measure. I got rid of a LOT of junk when I moved, which helped, and my room isn’t such a mess any more.

• Start investing

  I opened a Roth IRA on Etrade and bought a bunch of index funds for real cheap, thanks to the recession (err… I mean… “economic downturn”). I’m becoming more and more convinced that index funds are the best choice for non-professionals, but that’s a whole different post.

I think I did pretty well, if I do say so myself. I accomplished some big goals, abandoned a few and fell short on some. If there’s one thing I learned about goals this year it’s that I need to be careful not to go overboard. I’m in a period in life where I have enough personal time to accomplish a lot. But as life changes I need to prepare to not have as much of that time to myself, and plan my goals accordingly.

I’m working on my goals for 2009, which I’m sure will make for yet another verbose post in the very near future.