The Day, The Night

Specific, Measurable Results: 2008

2008 I played big and there were some powerful, unexpected results.  This is why I love this game, you never know what you are going to accomplish on the way to accomplishing the stated goals.

10 Goals for 12 Months

01.01.2008 - 12.31.2008

1. Business revenues.  

Not achieved: I did 65% of goal.  Consider that I got no new work from September-November this year.  I am already playing outside of my normal network to make 2009's goal.

2. All personal CC debt paid.

Achieved in January, almost immediately after declaring it, with a surprise infusion of cash.  Then, got some back again, so not achieved.

3. Blue belt.

Achieved December 20.

Note the actions I took to get this early promotion, declared in January.  First, committed to a year of private lessons with my teacher, who invited me to work with him the first week of January, only a few days after I declared the milestone would happen.  Second, he was let go from my school the very next week, so from January through June I travelled an hour into New Jersey every week for intense, 3-hour conditioning and private BJJ lessons.  Also during that time helping him navigate immigration issues.  Finally, founding, with the other two samurai, his own BJJ school, so that we could train 7 times a week from June to now.  Unreasonable declaration led to many unexpected results: my teacher has his own means of income to support his family (and he just got his green card), and I have created a community of BJJ students that operate like a big, happy family.

4. Compete in 2 BJJ tournaments, fight 4 fights, win at least 2 fights, one by submission.

Achieved to the letter: 2 tournaments, fought 5 fights, won 2 fights, 1 by submission.  Completed in November.

5. 50 students at my teacher's school.  

Not achieved: we have 45 students.  But there are still a few more days in 2008.

6. Pay business credit line off and save a particular amount of money.

Achieved credit line milestone, didn't achieve savings milestone.

7. One trip overseas.

Not achieved.  This one is on the docket for 09.

8. A particular amount of my income is from writing.

Not achieved, I did 15% of the goal I declared.

9. 3 party/bar events per month in pursuit of meeting potential love interests.

Not achieved.  Didn't feel like it?  That's of course not the point of these declarations.  Just the opposite: they are chances for me to take actions outside of how I feel about them.  This one is moving to 2009 with a commitment to follow through.

10. Complete my home.

Achieved in August, when I found a beautiful console in perfect condition for my foyer in my building's trash courtyard.

Promotion

The effortless power of it. It is like the power of falling asleep. I did not need to learn it. I only needed to forget the obstacles to unleashing the tide. Once it rises, the world is mine.

This is not walking. This is flying.  Here, the whole body is involved in locomotion, everything engaged in the dissolution of that arbitrary arbiter, gravity.

I still need to wear tough shoes. Landing is murder on anything except good boots and cross trainers.

My life, my handsome, beautiful life, had one sole purpose. To bring me here. To bring me to this day, this night. From there I take off.

The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us!

Terrible sting and terrible storm 
I can tell you the day we were born 
My friend is gone, he ran away 
I can tell you, I love him each day 
Though we have sparred, wrestled and raged 
I can tell you I love him each day