Perusing the ol’ Google Reader makes it abundantly clear that ’tis the season for top 10 lists. Top 10 social media something-or-others of the past year; top 10 predictions for social media in 2010… the ever present love of top 10 lists plus the irresistible allure of year-end retrospectives has proven too much to ignore.
I’m not being critical; hell, one of my best-read posts of the last while was my Top 5 Social Media Trends that Should Die from last year around this time. But this year, I just can’t bring myself to write one. Sure, I’ve had a few ideas and scribbled a few notes on the back of the proverbial napkin (*cough* my iPhone *cough*). But this hasn’t been a regular holiday season for me. My mind has sorta been elsewhere.
So with that lengthy preamble out of the way, I humbly offer up what will have to pass for my New Year’s post for 2010.
Resolution 2010
Forget social media and online tech. Forget collaboration and smart search. Forget augmented reality and the mobile web. For me, 2010 is going to be all about family.
Obvious, I know, given that my wife and I are impatiently awaiting the arrival of our first child (FYI, due dates are a cruel joke). And that clearly plays a big part in my declaration. I’ve always known I wanted to be a father. And, once I met her, I pretty quickly figured out that I wanted Amy to be the mother of my kids. Words can’t really express how excited I am to meet my baby and I already know my priorities are going to change dramatically once I finally see her smile at me.
But there’s more to it than that.
I’ve always been very close to my parents, brother and sister. Fortune has allowed me to see my brother a few times in the past few years (his work brings him to Ottawa on a regular basis) but I haven’t seen my parents, sister, sister-in-law or niece in more than two years. We’ve spoken on the phone a lot (at least once a week with my parents), shared photos and emails, but we haven’t actually seen anyone since our wedding.
That’s going to change.
2010 is going to be a chaotic year for us, there’s no doubt about it. Work will be busy and our house is about to be turned upside down. I can’t think of a better time to recommit to family.
Happy New Year.
photo credit: woodleywonderworks
Joe,
figured that this post cannot remain commentless. Can’t fault your logic here on many counts, not the least:
1. Parenting is a great adventure and likely our best chance to make the world a better place. It also goes by mighty fast (sounding like the “old” fart I can’t bring myself to believe could be the case) and changes mighty quickly, so enjoy it as it goes by. One moment we were waiting like you guys are (well nearly, both our boys were early, Jeremy too much so) & the next moment we’re “empty nesters”.
2. I’m a big fan of one (& only one) resolution for a year. Gives focus.
Writing this reminds me of a quote from (sailboat designer) Jim Brown describing a cruising voyage: “Not all good, not all bad, all real”. Savour the moments & the experience.
cheers,
Andrew
Much obliged, Andrew, thanks for the thoughtful comments.