The “Required Resolution Post – Part 3

Edited by request. Apologies to the requesting party.

For Part 1, click here. For Part 2, click here.

After going over some physical and professional goals for the year, this post will mainly be about some other random things that I hope to accomplish before 2014 is upon us. This is pretty much just a dumping ground for a few things that didn’t fit in with the other eight goals from the previous posts. On with the show!

1) Get Total Remaining Debt Under $10,000
As I mentioned in my first resolution post, I have made paying off debt a resolution every year since I pretty much got in debt in the first place. And while I would have liked to maximize what I paid off last year by spending a whole year at home, I wasn’t nearly as successful as I would have liked. Combine that with the super fun foreclosure on my condo in Connecticut, and my credit is pretty shot for the time being. ‘Murica!

That said, with a renewed focus on writing this year, as well as some real focus, I believe that I can meet this goal by the end of the year, if not be further past it. In fact, if things go as planned, I should be down to just my car note and one stupid credit card by the time I start school this summer, which will be super awesome.

Granted, I’m not including student loans in my total debt right now as they are not quite in repayment status yet, and if I go back to school, they get pushed off for another 18 months or so, but by that time, everything else should be paid off and I can go crazy on getting rid of those things.

2) Continue Growing My Epic Beard Until Movember Rolls Back Around
Now, doing this might not make me super popular with The Ladies, but I’m alright with that.
Other than my failed attempt to raise thousands of dollars for men’s health last November, the female of the species has been the primary reason for shedding the beard. No longer! The longest I have ever gone without shaving, saving the first 18 years of my life or so, was about four months, so I want to see how awesome my beard can get after a full 11 months.

It might sound stupid to you, but after being in the Army Reserve for over 10 years and having to shave at least once monthly, it sucked. I do, however, reserve the right to trim the mustache portion of my beard, but only because food gets in it and I don’t necessarily like smelling my food long after I eat it. Besides, it doesn’t really connect all that well the the hair along my chin anyway.

3) Stop Worrying About Finding “Her”
There are some things in this life that are near impossible to control, and finding The Next Mrs. Eberhard might be something that is a bit out of my control right now. And you know what? I’m alright with that. I have mentioned elsewhere my belief in fate and things happening for a reason, and it might be time to stop worrying about it so much. If it happens, it happens, so I’ll just work on getting myself in the right place physically, emotionally, and financially in order to let it happens when it does.

Besides…online dating is really tough for whatever reason, and there has to be a better way to meet people. Don’t get me wrong: I am a huge fan of female companionship. I just don’t think I’ll have a whole lot of time for a girlfriend anytime soon, so I’m just moving it a bit further down on my list of priorities for at least the next 11 months, if not until I am completely done with school. I have a tentative plan to go back to Germany after I finish, maybe track down that fake wife of mine…

4) Be a Better Friend and Sibling
It’s strange when you tell yourself that you are moving home, after establishing a relatively successful life on the opposite side of the country, to see your friends and family that you have been away from for a third of your life, then, subconsciously or not, go out of your way to not see them more often. It’s absurd. In the nearly 12 months I have been back in my home state, I can count on one hand the amount of times of seen the person that I consider my best friend. I don’t blame her; I’m just lazy and always made excuses. Well no more! I am going to try and see her at least once a month, even if it is just for a quick lunch or something as she works hard at being super kick ass at her job and as a mom. I honestly miss her, and it’s all my fault.

On the sibling front, I am going to make an effort to see more of my older sister, and not just showing up to watch the Wasatch Roller Derby girls at their scrimmages. If anything, being more present might actually get my nephew to address me as the right uncle, but we’ll take it one step at a time.

There are other friends that I feel I have neglected a bit this year, though it may have been because I was expecting more availability from them after I came home. I see them when I can, and currently work with one every day, but sometimes it just doesn’t feel like enough. Not enough moments like this:

We were actually all together again last week for the first time in forever, and we didn’t even think to do this again. Hopefully it won’t take another four years for something to bring us together for a photo op. We are all busy in our own ways, but without friends, life can be pretty hard sometimes.

Umm… so yeah. Totally ended this one on a downer. That’s what happens when you find old pictures of yourself in a much happier time. Anyway, hopefully I can reflect back on 2013 when my birthday rolls around again and say that there were some successes with all 12 of these resolutions. Only time will tell.

Until next time…