New Year's Reflection and Resolutions

[KingXanaduu]

Well, we're all well into the New Year, and 2012 has come and gone, with memories and experiences that we can forever remember. Now, the New Year of 2013 awaits us with new opportunities and events, so who knows what to expect.

But in order to look to the future and make something of it, we must also look behind us and reflect on what has passed.

So, I ask all of us at Evageeks: What are the most memorable events and memories (both good and ill) that you have of this past year that have allowed you to grow as a person, and what do you hope to do for this upcoming year? Any resolutions for the New Year? :)

[Tankred]

Play fighting games and avoid evangelion discussions because I'm super dark and edgy. Same as last year, I guess.

[pwhodges]

When I was young I occasionally made resolutions; but I either failed to achieve them or lost them or plain forgot all about them. So now I don't bother - this could be seen as a resolution in its own right.

But what I would like to think I might do is try to get permission to record a sample set of the organ of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, for use with Hauptwerk.

[Fireball]

The same thing I do every year, Pinky — try to take over the world

[Stryker]

My New Year's Resolution was to stop listening to other people's New Year's Resolutions.

I failed.

[Mr. Tines]

The nearest I have to anything like a New Year Resolution is a target of 2700 miles cycling this year.

[backseatjesus]

1. lose weight (doubtful though considering that I have no money and do not buy the food that's in the house)
2. Try to be more confident and less negative. This is going to be hard as hell.
3. Create something I am willing to share with people. I write a lot, but my insecurities get the best of me, so I've never really shared anything with anyone.

[EvaBrothers]

Finish Season 1.0 of Eva Brothers (which is around since 2004 ) and complete one of my novels.

[Dream]

What are the most memorable events and memories (both good and ill) that you have of this past year that have allowed you to grow as a person, and what do you hope to do for this upcoming year?

Hmm...

I got myself banned from the forums i considered my home, didn't recognize it was my fault or take any responsibility for it until many months later, and when it was... Too late, for some things (not about something with the forums, though), my dear friend blocked me and i'm never going to see her again. Same thing with my best friend.

I was forced by cirscumtances to come here, even though i hated this place.

Many months after that, i started being a bit more comfortable around here and got a thicker skin (or a more open understanding or mentality at least), i started experiencing many things which made me grow as a person, develop my mindset, and question previously set ideas about life, relationships and the world. The main things i can think of: John Cheese and David Wong's articles, Katawa Shoujo, rewatches of Evangelion in a new perspective (now with all the knowledge gotten in EGF discussions), and... some other things i can't seem to remember right now.

Sometime around November, it seems like i was going utterly insane, and throught that horrible episode i realized that, contrary to what i thought and wanted to believe, i still had many negative aspects about myself that i thought i left behind so, so long ago. More than that, it was throught that episode (related to some people in my old forums) That i ended up viewing of those pasts arguments and actions of mine in a new light, and it's what allowed me to see how wrong i was about everything. Ever since then i've wanted to apologize to everyone in my old forums, but it's very likely i'll never be able to.

By the time New year was rolling around, i didn't have anything of what i had at the start of 2012. I destroyed it throught my own flaws, and at first it was a very sad/bitter thing to take. I lost everything, my whole past life.

Any resolutions for the New Year?

To be honest, rather than a New Year's Resolution, i think what's proposed in this article is better:

So how about this: one year. The end of 2013, that's our deadline. Or a year from whenever you read this. While other people are telling you "Let's make a New Year's resolution to lose 15 pounds this year!" I'm going to say let's pledge to do fucking anything -- add any skill, any improvement to your human tool set, and get good enough at it to impress people. Don't ask me what -- hell, pick something at random if you don't know. Take a class in karate, or ballroom dancing, or pottery. Learn to bake. Build a birdhouse. Learn massage. Learn a programming language. Film a porno. Adopt a superhero persona and fight crime. Start a YouTube vlog. Write for Cracked.

But the key is, I don't want you to focus on something great that you're going to make happen to you ("I'm going to find a girlfriend, I'm going to make lots of money ..."). I want you to purely focus on giving yourself a skill that would make you ever so slightly more interesting and valuable to other people.

"I don't have the money to take a cooking class." Then fucking Google "how to cook." They've even filtered out the porn now, it's easier than ever. Damn it, you have to kill those excuses. Or they will kill you.

If you want to make note of your project in the forum thread or the comments and check in this time next year, knock yourself out. I'll be curious to see if even one person actually does this, but if so we'll look back, not just on whether or not we actually followed through, but why. You have nothing to lose, and the world needs you. Here's a video of a corgi rolling down some stairs.

So, if i were to dare write in that thread, i think i would write something like this:

I want to get at art. I don't know why, i just know i want to get really, really good at it. I want to get treatment for my Borderline, or at least address it in some manner. I want to manage to get an article in Cracked published. I want to learn animation. I want to create something. I want to embark in an endeavor in which there is no turning back and in which i can't give up, or that the consequences for giving up would be extremely dire, maybe something where people depend or count on it.

Before i die, i want to find some value or worth in life, and in my life.

Even though i don't believe in things like hope and future, at the very least i should try.

[Bomby von Bombsville]

1. Finish editing my god-forsaken awful movie.
2. Get a full time job with health benefits.
3. Move back out of my parents' house.
4. Write and record more music. A lot more music.
5. Write three screenplays.
6. Gain 15 pounds.

[EvangelionFan]

Hit two users with one ban.

[A.T. Fish]

Ever since then i've wanted to apologize to everyone in my old forums, but it's very likely i'll never be able to.

I don't really know the circumstances that led to the problem with your old forum mates but I can see why apologizing would be important. That said, why don't you just write an apology and ask for one of your old friends in that forum to post it for you? Or, if you can't really communicate with anyone there, have another friend join the forum just to post your apology. Even linking to this post of yours would be a good thing I think, given your sincerity about wanting to apologize.

[CJD]

Every year my resolution is "Don't get yourself killed out there." So far I think I've done pretty well at that. Jokes aside it's mostly personal stuff. "Be more comfortable with yourself." "Do less things you regret." "Make progress towards your goals." You know, typical stuff.

[Defectron]

So yeah memorable stuff from 2012, yeah this is the year when I really managed to go beyond the veil of our standard reality tunnel and entered the rabbithole of the matrix.

I made freinds with all sorts of entites like ghosts, demons, angels and aliens and beings in parralell universes

I got a guy abducted by aliens

I found out what its like to have a female orgasm

I told a bad masturbation joke to a demonic king and he made me poo in my pants

I defeated a bunch of chumps with my awesome power who thought they could touch this.

I learned how to drain energy out of people

My freind got beat up by a reptilian

I did some other cool shit I either cant talk about or am too lazy to remember


But yeah other then all that lets see here

I restarted parasite galaxy

Took a trip to Guatamala where some of the cool shit in my reality bending list happened

Twin drive got fucking BANNED! Forums havent been as fun since he's gone though i dont miss the tk whining

I met a guy who talks like the guy from reanimator who says "your a talking head, no ones going to believe you get a job in the side show" and then I helped him move in with this crazy war reanactment guy who has all these big nazi germany banners all over his house.

I got my freind who was a afraid of being a brony into mlp , basically whenever he says he will never do something I always find a way to make him do it.

I did a shit in the kennedy mansion

So yeah for 2013

Bring Parasite Galaxy to the next level
Hopefully move out or at least make progress in doing so
Obtain the power of the gods!

[Nuclear Lunchbox]

My new year's resolution last year was not to make another new year's resolution. Win all around, as far as I'm concerned.

[Bread]

My one and only New Year's resolution is to bump my study of Japanese from one hour a month to four hours a week. I WILL be trilingual by the time 2014 comes around!

I haven't had the time lately. The only reason I'm even studying once a month is so I don't forget what I've already learned.

On a related note, does anyone have any suggestions on Kanji memorization techniques? I have a decent grasp of grammar and mechanics, my vocabulary is where I'm really suffering.

[Stryker]

I know where not to go: Rosetta Stone. Rosetta Stone has a fantastic speaking program, but the memorization for character is rather bad. Saying that from experience. You're probably better off following textbooks, if there are any.

[riffraff11235]

On a related note, does anyone have any suggestions on Kanji memorization techniques? I have a decent grasp of grammar and mechanics, my vocabulary is where I'm really suffering.

I take it you're studying on your own, right? Or are you following some kind of course? I've been trying to absorb as much Japanese as possible through the anime I watch. I took a couple of weeks to memorize the Hiragana and Katakana on my own, but other than that I haven't done much actual "studying". I plan to take Japanese once I enter college to help fill my humanities requirements.

I'd be really interested to hear any suggestions as well.

[Nuclear Lunchbox]

On a related note, does anyone have any suggestions on Kanji memorization techniques? I have a decent grasp of grammar and mechanics, my vocabulary is where I'm really suffering.

Find the Kanji that you are currently trying to learn, write it several times a week, and memorize the sound. I'm learning Chinese, and that strategy is working pretty well for me. Of course, I'm switching to Jap as soon as I can.

[MAGI_01]

I don't like to make resolutions but I will reflect on last year a bit.

2012 started out like crap but turned around to end up being the best year i've had in a long time. The highlights being:

1. Got to go on a very eye opening and amazing trip aboard the USS Carl Vinson... the carrier my closest friend was stationed on before he got transferred a few months ago.

2. My nephew came down from Alaska and spent two months with me and my parents.

3. Got to go to two amazing concerts.

4. After much self reflection through the help of my closest friend during my trip on his ship and afterwards. I ended up getting into college which has been a great so far.

Overall 2012 started out bad but ended on a very high note and my goal for 2013 is to continue making progress on improving my attitude and to keep positive and also to continue to do well in college.