A new year has begun, and I’m trying to make the most of it. I have a lot of things I think I want to accomplish, but I wanted to write it down here to hold myself more accountable.

I think it’s also worth noting to future me that I don’t have to get these all done 100%. This is simply a list to remind me to stop wasting time, and to do more meaningful things that will make your life more enjoyable in the long run.

With that, here are my goals for the year of 2024:

• Arrange, record and sell ukulele pieces. I’ve been practicing a lot (both the instrument and Musescore), so I feel confident in my ability to take my favourite video game (or other) tracks and turn them into fingerstyle ukulele pieces.
• Draw! Doesn’t have to be phenomenal, but practice every day and try to work on something meaningful.
• Learn to 3D model. Same as above - doesn’t have to be perfect, but try to make something meaningful.
• Post to this website more. I spent a day making it, and don’t post much to social media. May as well do something with it, even if it’s small.
• Work on my card game. I’m mostly there. Come up with some art, make it in a game engine, whatever. Just keep working on it.
• Write. Currently there’s an idea for a book, but if that gets boring then write poetry, maybe vent to the ether on this website, maybe try to make a comic strip so that it ties in with drawing. Whatever; just write something.
• Exercise. This will make everything feel better.
• Make one meaningful connection. I’m far from home, I’m lonely. Making a good friend or even keeping doors open to a partner would be good for me I think.

And last, but certainly not least:

• If any of the above get boring, take a break. There is no joy in doing something that makes me feel like shit.

With that, here’s fingers crossed that 2024 is a good year. Don’t know where my degree will take me, but I’m going to just let that figure itself out while I try to stay involved in all aspects of work that make my life feel better.