Looking back at my New Year’s Resolutions for 2017
For the past seven years I have posted a list of my New Year’s Resolutions (see 2011 here, 2012 here, 2013 here, 2014 here and here, 2015 here, 2016 here and 2017 here). In the interests of transparency, I also post an update at the end of the year with respect to each of the resolutions (you can see my update from the past six years here, here, here, here, here and then here).
In summary: 2017 was a very strange year, with amazing highs and dramatic lows. The unexpected Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey in the second half of the year became all consuming, pushing aside pretty much everything else, and derailing my progress towards some of my resolutions. So basically I managed to achieve only one of my seven resolutions for this year, which was “Achieve marriage equality”. Of course, I’m acutely aware that whatever tiny role I played in the equality campaign made very little difference to the overall outcome, and that it was always silly to include it in my list of resolutions in the first place, but given how the campaign completely took over my year it seems a little fitting to include it as the one resolution I achieved this year.
Anyway, this is how I went this year ...
1. Build on the momentum of 2016, especially when it comes to my writing - failed. This was always going to be difficult as I foolishly agreed to teach over summer last year, which meant that I had no time to write before semester 1 begun. So it was always going to require me to get back into my writing in the second half of the year. Of course, the postal survey campaign made that an impossibility. So unfortunately I didn’t get much academic writing done this year.
2. Start a podcast - failed. I teased the idea last year of starting a podcast on LGBTIQ issues, as I felt there was a lack of good LGBTIQ podcasts. However, 12 months later I really don’t think there is a gap that I could helpfully fill with my own LGBTIQ podcast. I am still, perhaps, interested in doing a podcast on the High Court or Australian constitutional law (similar to First Mondays or Amicus) but it’s not a priority for 2018.
3. Do more cooking - failed. This resolution, together with the next few resolutions, have appeared on quite a few of my lists over the years. However, once again I really failed to achieve it this year. Cooking for one, together with a pretty hectic and erratic schedule, make it hard to get the motivation to cook at the end of the day.
4. Read fiction for pleasure - failed. I didn’t even come close to achieving this. I don’t think I read one fiction book all year.
5. Get fitter, stronger and more toned - failed. I was actually on track to achieve this resolution. In August, I was at my lowest weight in at least 10 years and was fitter and stronger than I had probably ever been. However, then two things happened: the postal survey and I fell while at Kingscliff and bruised two ribs, which meant I couldn’t go to the gym for two months. Unfortunately I’ve pretty much lost all the good work I did in the first half of the year but I’ll get back into the gym (and water polo) in the New Year.
6. Save more money - failed. This has become another standard resolution that I didn’t really achieve this year. While I certainly wasn’t irresponsible this year, I need to continue to be mindful of my spending and saving.
7. Achieve marriage equality - achieved. While this was of course this was the most resolution on my list, it was also the one I had very little control over whether it was achieved. Nonetheless, as the Australian Marriage Law Postal is probably one of two things I will always remember 2017 for (the other being my partner Joe), it does seem somewhat appropriate to include as the only resolution I achieved in 2017.
So overall it was a pretty mixed year. Achieving marriage equality was a true highlight and being involved in the campaign is something I will always treasure; it may also be the most important thing I ever do in my life. However, when it came to my work, my fitness and my relationships, 2017 was generally one to forget. Despite this, the past few months have been very special. Not only did we achieve marriage equality but I got back together with my best friend and the love of my life. With the possibility of big changes in 2018, I can’t wait to see what the next 12 months brings.
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