Memoro MMXXI, Praedico MMXXII

The conventional New Year marker is, of course, completely arbitrary. If anything the Solstice would be a better date as it least has some astronomical significance. Dating conventions aside, there is still value in reflection on the past twelve months and planning one's activities for the next twelve. Of course, if the past two years have taught us anything events can still surprise and disrupt any plans that we have, and acquiring a combination of adaptability and resilience has become an important life skill for us all. So whilst I feel that my plans for the past year weren't seriously askew, a more objective reflection suggests that it wasn't too far from the mark.

For example in work and academia, I absolutely smashed it at work with management expressing some surprise at the number of HPC workshops I delivered. In addition, there were three conference presentations (and attendance at the inaugural John Lyons Lectures), an even lengthier presentation to another university, the preprint of a book chapter, and another year where citations continue to grow. In the coming year, it's already been flagged that I'll be doing even more direct engagement with scientific researchers and consultancy, whilst still keeping a foot in the door in systems engineering tasks. On a related topic, as predicted, I did complete my MHEd thesis a year early, albeit in draft form. Finishing that for submission is already the main task for January, and then finishing degree number seven. I probably should mention that I completed the skill tree for Chinese on Duolingo, another "golden owl".

I cannot say that the three incorporated associations that I chair (Isocracy Network, Victorian Secular Lobby, RPG Review) had particularly astounding years, but I also expected that would be the case. It was a year for a "holding pattern" for all of them, along with the new group I'm on the committee for The Wild Arts Club. For what it's worth I did write twelve articles for the Isocracy Network website, plus a number of 'blog posts, and managed to get four issues of the RPG Review quarterly out as well, with another six articles and plenty of editorial contributions. On a related area, there were another three presentations to local philosophy groups which, along with other essays, are all on the Lightbringer's site. On the "actual play" side of RPG things, my long-running Eclipse Phase game came to a rather impressive conclusion, and my HeroQuest Glorantha game is inching ever closer to its epic finale.

In terms of health and personal life, it was a challenging time. Around this time last year, I was being checked in for emergency surgery, which rather paled into insignificance compared to the emotional challenges faced, which coincided with the loss of two molars. Fun times. Whilst always perhaps a little too close to the existential (especially with a degree of driven dysthymia and hyperphantasia) the hard gaze into the abyss also turned out to be a source of inner and interpersonal development. On the latter note, things are much better now after a tumultuous period, and one looks forward to measured growth in an interdependent relationship with lei_loo. Plus, I bought and moved into a new inner-city apartment which, despite many early misgivings, I'm feeling quite comfortable in.

Unlike other years, I am not going to write-up a detailed list of plans for this year. I do have one extremely important life-project started in the past year which still goes by the code-name "Wild Flying Geese" which has a priority above all else. Plus there are some academic requirements (degrees six, seven, and maybe even number eight). That is more than enough in terms of priorities; I already have plenty of uncompleted projects from prior years that do need attending to, and if I complete any of those all will be well. Life is short, death is long, use your time wisely.