Looking Ahead

If you haven't read through Looking Back yet, I'd advise reviewing 2012 before tackling 2013.

This is published post number 210 here in Wombat's Gaming Den of Iniquity. It feels like only yesterday that I was afraid I wouldn't have much to say. Just goes to show that starting is the important part. Hopefully the rest will take care of itself.

Here it is, the day of calendar changeover, filled with artificial promises to be better in the future. I'm not sure I'll actually resolve anything, as it's always felt like a recipe for self-sabotage. But I would like to note down a few things that I want to do (or at least start dealing with) while the calendar is still blissfully blank.

Juggle Faster

Balls.

I'm still learning to juggle, and not being consistent about practicing. But that's not what I mean.

To me, managing my time feels like juggling a running chainsaw, a bowling ball, and a quail egg while riding a unicycle across a tightrope without spilling any water from the glass on top of my head. I've been giving up and moving to Plan B even before I'm done planning. I hold on to each metaphorical ball too long and then I'm out of position for each following catch and throw, and I feel like it all drops in a failure cascade. I tire of this feeling.

I'm a Virgo, so I crave order. But I have multiple high priorities which frequently conflict, and I'm terrible about letting everyone know what's happening. So my approach will be twofold: 1) Plan and fight to stick with the plan more, and 2) Communicate more effectively, especially when plans are in flux. I don't think a posting schedule makes sense as I use this blog to keep my creativity flowing, but I'm thinking a post a week makes a decent goal. Hopefully I can more effectively schedule the rest of my time and bring more parts of my life into harmony.

As my wife Christina wrote in her resolution post, "I'm blessed with a bunch of really awesome things right now, but I totally get the concept of too much of a good thing. This year, I will find better balance." Spot on. I need to carve out intentional time for me, not just "I've got a few minutes - now what?"

Play More

Found at SundayGamers.

I've started running an RPG for Kids, and it's made me realize how much I've missed actually playing. We try to keep up with board games, but even our potluck games are getting harder to schedule, and when we schedule a game night and get one RSVP out of 20 invites, it gets discouraging and tastes like failure. I tire of this feeling as well.

I've got a potluck and game night scheduled for 12 January 2013 at our church. More details and an RSVP link forthcoming today or tomorrow. I think that may turn into a monthly thing, so hopefully that will bring some consistency to the party.

Confession time: I've never been a part of a G+ hangout, never mind a hangout game. I'd like to change that in 2013. I'd like to run something at PAX East this year, probably Classic Traveller or Warrior, Rogue & Mage, though I may get ambitious and do something with Dungeon World or 4e Gamma World. Only 80 days to prep, so I'd better get cracking on that.

Learn Selfishly
I've been learning by doing all my life. I've experimented with almost every role in theatrical productions in college. I hacked ASP before it was ASP to make databases accessible online. I usually read the rules to a new game and explain them to everyone else at the table. But all of these are filling a void that arose from external circumstances.

I'd like to learn a few things for the sake of learning them, then work out how to use them. I've got a few things on my list other than game systems right now: relearn LaTeX since I haven't used it in 20 years, learn rudimentary music theory, learn the basics of playing piano and guitar, record and produce audio and video that doesn't make me want to cringe, make the third ball toss consistent and actually juggle, maybe pick up a ukelele at some point. I don't know if I'll get to all of them, but I hope to work on one or two this year.

Go Deeper

Logo by VADi25.

Social media works by connecting with other people. Every person out there is different. So the more connections you have, the more segmented your time in keeping up with everyone else, and the less time you have to spend with any one person.

I feel like I've participated very broadly, mostly to find cool links for the Weekly Assembly. Unfortunately, I've been spending all my time skimming posts without really thinking about how I can tweak the system to make it work better for me. It's a habit, and it needs to change.

This ties back to carving out time for me. If I make time where I can plan, analyze, and be creative, I will probably see how to edit the system to make it work more effectively for me. Instead of chasing quantity, I'll be able to create quality and connect more deeply. The trick is getting over the fear of missing something.

Other Things

Truth from Cyanide & Happiness.

Yes, I have voices in my head telling me to say more typical resolutiony things like remodeling work spaces, cleaning out the clutter, and shaping up physically. These are important, but more mundane in my mind. Without a framework that will support these lesser goals, they'll never happen.

The whole idea behind resolutions is to become what you perceive to be a better person. I say make the best decisions you can with whatever you have to work with and you'll be able to sleep at night. Sometimes there are no right decisions, but that doesn't mean not deciding is the best way to go.

Analyze the situation with the time you have. Decide a course of action with intent. Communicate and support that decision. Execute the action plan. Repeat as needed.

It seems this post took a left into personal territory. Sometimes I need to write non-gaming things. *gasp!*

May 2013 be better than 2012 for all of us when we look back at this time next year.