What did you learn in 2008 that will shape your future in 2009?

[TheCotMan]

[Background]
Through history, the concept of an agenda or plan for a coming future has been common.
Sometimes these plans are associated with a specific time of the year, as is found with the often referenced, "New Year's Resolution."

Sometimes a person will decide a new plan is in order on their birthday, or at the end of an academic year. Exactly where the point of review, contemplation, strategy and announcement of a plan is finished is totally arbitrary. I guess this means that now is as good a time as any to bring up this topic. :-)

[Meat of discussion]
What plans have you made for this coming year because of your experiences in the last year?

Have you decided to learn something new? Maybe treat people differently? Be more assertive? Maybe you behave in some way that you want to change yourself or your life? Go back to school? Finish your dissertation or thesis? What were your plans last time you did this? How did your plans compare with the results?

[Starting this off]
I am going to finish a stack of 15 books from my "to-read" technical pile, and 6 more books which are in my entertainment pile. One of these will be a book on the history of cryptography.

Last year, I had plans to read several books, but didn't quite make my goal because of work.

To help avoid repeating the problems of last year, I will actually be taking some vacation time from work, and spend some of that time reading.

I'm also going to learn how to preserve fruit and make jams, because I like learning how to do thing like they were done before my time.

I learned accidents on bicycles still suck. Health is more important when we don't have it (because of injury in my case) than it is when we do have it. Paying off unsecured loans makes me feel good, and being employed is still a privilege.

[you?]
What about you?

[Thorn]

Re: What did you learn in 2008 that will shape your future in 2009?

Welding is a skill I've aspired to attempt several times, but never had much luck with, and no formal training. So I'm starting a welding class next week.

Professionally, I've started doing some aggressive marketing.

[renderman]

Re: What did you learn in 2008 that will shape your future in 2009?

What did I learn from 2008 that will affect 2009?

Not working for 3 months because your out of the country spending money makes it really hard to stay ahead.

That and the fact that I apparently have one odd reputation at one of my clients that has them telling stories of superpowers

[bascule]

Re: What did you learn in 2008 that will shape your future in 2009?

I started using and truly learning git and github, which have completely changed the way I develop.

Dunno if that was the #1 most important thing I learned in 2008, but it's certainly one of them.

[faye]

Re: What did you learn in 2008 that will shape your future in 2009?

Im going to try to better myself in many ways this year. I plan on going back to school to get a degree. I found something called digital forensics which sounds really interesting, but Im not sure what the job market for it is like, so I will probably stick to the medical field. I know the demand for nurses will only increase and I will have a job waiting for me no matter where I move to.

I also plan to become healthier by eating better. I've already made the switch from white bread to wheat bread and from ground beef to turkey...but I still have a long way to go.

I didnt get to cook much at all last year, but this year I have a chance to learn some stuff in the kitchen. Im taking it one recipe at a time, and its going well so far. In fact I just took tomorrows breakfast out of the oven. I think cooking may be my new hobby. lol

Late last year I learned that flying is not as hard as I thought. I flew on an airplane for the first time, so not that I've popped the airline cherry, I wont be taking the bus from Texas to Vegas if I go to defcon this year.

I've learned that chances are from time to time, I will piss at least one person off no matter what I do, so I shouldnt obsess over what I could have done right. Some people are just waiting for an excuse to get pissed off, so just deal with it. So this year Im going to try to not stress over the small stuff. This is going to be hard for me, because I have a tendency to care about what others think of me, but I have to learn not to care. (this ones for you grandma)

[Sereyna]

Re: What did you learn in 2008 that will shape your future in 2009?

I learned not to live outside of my means. I learned to be more outgoing and sociable, as it'll be a lot more fun that thinking about what I might have missed later. And somewhat along those lines, I learned that if the opportunity suddenly presents itself to do something or go somewhere I hadn't planned on, for fuck's sake just stop trying to rationalize it and do it!

Oh, and I learned that I can read something much faster if it's in electronic format on my computer. Four books down since the start of the year already.

[astcell]

Re: What did you learn in 2008 that will shape your future in 2009?

Life is precious.

[code08]

Re: What did you learn in 2008 that will shape your future in 2009?

I learned life is pretty much pointless and hopefully this year I'll figure out something to live for.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: What did you learn in 2008 that will shape your future in 2009?

I learned life is pretty much pointless and hopefully this year I'll figure out something to live for.

did you mean to post this here, or possibly on livejournal instead?

[noid]

Re: What did you learn in 2008 that will shape your future in 2009?

did you mean to post this here, or possibly on livejournal instead?

Current Mood: Emo

[code08]

Re: What did you learn in 2008 that will shape your future in 2009?

Current Mood: Emo

I know right it's like midlife crisis except I'm only 19.

On a lighter note though I've learned how to use my camera very well this year. 2009 will probably become the most artistically documented year of my life. I might actually take the time to learn photoshop too so that my pictures become something better.

I also started to learn Python at the end of 2008 and in 2009 I hope to become and uber great script writer.

[noid]

Re: What did you learn in 2008 that will shape your future in 2009?

I know right it's like midlife crisis except I'm only 19.

On a lighter note though I've learned how to use my camera very well this year. 2009 will probably become the most artistically documented year of my life. I might actually take the time to learn photoshop too so that my pictures become something better.

I also started to learn Python at the end of 2008 and in 2009 I hope to become and uber great script writer.

Its ok to be a mopey teenager when you are still a teenager. Could be worse, I turn 35 in a few weeks and am having a real mid-life crisis right now (ya, thats right, I only expect to make it to 70). I'm thinking my goal for this year is to get back into college and finish my degree. I also want to learn to weld (better) and be able to shoot accurately at 1000 meters.

[BackatchaBandit]

Re: What did you learn in 2008 that will shape your future in 2009?

An old friend makes beautiful, intricate and finely crafted sculptures from old tools and bits of assorted scrap metal. When I first saw her work, I complimented her on her amazing welding skills.

'No', she corrected me, 'I'm totally crap at welding... but I'm shit hot with an angle-grinder'.

-

Last year I learned that if you've got a bunch of people who are good at and care about what they do, you really don't need a 'boss'.

This year, we're setting out to prove it.

[valkyrie]

Re: What did you learn in 2008 that will shape your future in 2009?

What did I learn from 2008 that will affect 2009?

Not working for 3 months because your out of the country spending money makes it really hard to stay ahead.

That and the fact that I apparently have one odd reputation at one of my clients that has them telling stories of superpowers

I will take 3 months off and actually use it for my personal benefit.

I will finish some and actually publish some of my programs. Even if no one ever likes them or sees them.

I will continually be committed to not accepting fucktardedess from other people and not be so nice about fuctardedness in myself.

I won't cut my hair, I won't cut my hair, I won't cut my hair. It took long enough to grow it out and it looks pretty funky. I won't cut my hair.

I played violin for a couple of years. I am now going to try to find an electronic violin and go all weird ala the Geeks films.

I am committed to bench pressing more weight than Cjunky. :-)

I am committed to making every single one of you jealous of my joy, and asking me why.

I am committed to that next 9 or 90 year old with stars in his/her in their eyes. That's life y'all.

If you grok it, you do. If you don't? Nothing I can say can convince you.

Regards,

valkyrie
__________________________________________________ ___________
sapere aude

[shrdlu]

Re: What did you learn in 2008 that will shape your future in 2009?

...Could be worse, I turn 35 in a few weeks and am having a real mid-life crisis right now (ya, thats right, I only expect to make it to 70). I'm thinking my goal for this year is to get back into college and finish my degree. I also want to learn to weld (better) and be able to shoot accurately at 1000 meters.

Perhaps I shall have a mid-life crisis. I expect to make it to 94 (statistically), and recognize that means this is really more like the last third, but still...

Life is precious. Time is precious. Live as though each moment is the last one.

I intend to rebuild my network, and try to live within my (IP allocation) means. Who knows? Maybe I'll finish that book I was writing.

I thought about adding in some stuff about being a kinder and gentler shrdlu, but we all know I'd be lying.