This entry originally appeared on my disability blog, I hate stairs.

I am sitting in the dark at my living room table as I peck this article into my iPhone. As folks in Mississippi know, Byram took a beating from a tornado this New Year’s Eve leaving just about everyone without power. So I am mainly updating this blog out of boredom. But it deserves an update. So why not talk about things I want to accomplish in 2011.

Wow, that’s the first time I have written that. It feels alien. This year has gone by so fast. I don’t feel like I accomplished much in 2010. But here’s to making 2011 more productive.

My main goal for 2011 is to work. For money. This can either be as an employee or as a freelancer. But it needs to happen. If I did anything in 2010, I added greatly to my knowledge of web design. It would be great to get a chance to put that knowledge to use on more than just a handful of really small projects. Don’t get me wrong though. I have enjoyed being the webmaster for Stop SMA and I hope to make it’s web presence even better in 2011. But I think I could do some great work for larger organizations if given the opportunity.

Another goal I have for 2011 is to see a pet project through and not quit on it. I usually start several projects out of personal interest and curiosity but they end up being abandoned before they get off the ground. This past month, after watching my brother struggle for a week with end-of-the-semester grading (he’s a TA), I decided to develop a web application for managing grades. It’s just a simple online gradebook. Actually, simplicity is it’s biggest feature. I’m sure I’ll be writing more about that project soon. Suffice it to say that I want to stick with this project and make something useful out of it. Who knows? Maybe I can make some money with it.

I failed to write a novel in November, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t get anything out of the experience. I plan to take what I learned and try again in November 2011.

I also have some goals for the new year that many others likely have. I want to eat healthier and lose some weight. I want to stick to a one year Bible reading plan. I want to meet new people and maybe get involved in some kind group or club or something.

I guess what I want is to be able to look back 365 days from now and know that I used each one to do something that mattered.

Is that too much to ask?