Set Goals for 2012

January 2012

Dear Friends,

I can’t even tell you how happy I am that 2011 is officially over. I was sick much of December, and I thought I’d lose a lung by the time I recovered after three long weeks. My entire body felt bruised from the inside out, wracked as it was with violent coughing spells that left me gasping and breathless. Thankfully I’m better now, which is a blessing I’m grateful for.

The end-of-year festivities were fun as always, packed with friends, parties and tons of food. But as much as I like to host these gatherings, all the work it takes to invite my guests, clean the house, decorate the tables and prepare the food is exhausting. Friends say I go above and beyond when it comes to entertaining, but my dad raised me to do nothing halfway, which is a good quality to have but requires lots of planning and stamina to accomplish. In fact, I remember one of my favorite books as a child was “Euphonia and the Flood” by Mary Calhoun, which taught the moral that “a job worth doing is worth doing well.” So I guess that value was ingrained in me since birth. Thankfully, my wife is always there to help out with whatever comes up. We make a great team.

Get tips on how to have a great party

The year’s events on the whole, however, were frightening and bizarre. They far outshined anything Dorothy would have ever encountered in her journey through Oz. If that little diva from Kansas in the gingham dress and ruby shoes had scampered down the yellow brick road in 2011 she’d have likely gasped over the ‘disasters, deaths and wars, oh my!’ while Toto and her trio of unlikely band of misfit friends ran after her like some deranged pack of baby daddies on an episode of “Maury” or “Cops.” (For more highlights from last year, read “New Year, New Beginning” on JathanAndHeather.com.)

Watch Dorothy skip down the yellow brick road

So it is with great enthusiasm that I welcome 2012. Now I have a chance to do better in practically every aspect of my life, and that includes working on the blog you’re currently reading. I can’t believe that I haven’t posted anything here since April, which is really unforgiveable. But I won’t sit here and make excuses, telling you that I was focused on other projects, quoting Scarlett O’Hara and saying that “I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.” Besides, I don’t own a hoop skirt and have never lived on a plantation, even if I did grow up in the South.

Watch Carol Burnett’s classic turn as Scarlett O’Hara

What I will say is that from now on, my goal is for this blog to really reflect what is going on with me personally, from my professional life to my most private thoughts. Hopefully, you’ll find some modicum of worth in what I write, whether that is from my insights on what is going on in the world, advice on practically everything related to writing and journalism, or my wry (and frequently sarcastic) commentary on the insanity of my own life. But the content will be fresh, and regularly published.

Aside from improved blogging, other big changes are currently in the works and news about them should be available soon, but I’m not yet at liberty to discuss them. So don’t ask! You’ll know as soon as I can tell you, though. What I can say now, however, is that I plan to continue writing my novel, articles and reviews; developing and testing recipes for the cookbook I’m writing with my wife; and growing my business as a multimedia company and consulting firm.

Start your own blog on WordPress

I continue to be an active member of the Society of Professional Journalists, as many of you are aware. As such, I’m really looking forward to attending some great events coming up this year, including the annual SPJ Spring Conference in March and the Excellence in Journalism 2012 conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in September, which is sponsored by SPJ and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Both events are always packed full of useful workshops to educate people in the news business and provide awesome opportunities to network with other professionals, which is very important these days. After all, it is increasingly apparent that who you know is oftentimes more important than what you know, whether or not you subscribe to that adage or think that it should be the case.

Become a member of the Society of Professional Journalists

Undoubtedly, busy times are ahead of me. But the year is already looking brighter and I’m optimistic about the future of 2012. I hope you take advantage of this new beginning too, making it the best year yet in your private and professional life.

Cheers,
Jathan

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