A bunch of stuff happened in 2011.
- I quit graduate school
- I traveled a bit: WordCamp Phoenix, API Workshop at MITH, Jamaica, NC barbecue roadtrip, THATCamp
- I co-taught a class about WordPress in the graphic design program at Queens College
- I proved myself the 76th best crossword solver in the universe
- I taught an intro to philosophy class at my alma mater
- I started Project Reclaim
- I hit the top 3 on Hacker News with a post about CUNY, Blackboard, and the inspiration to develop free software
- I switched to a standing desk
- I co-wrote a successful grant application
- I shipped mountains of code.
- Finally, and most importantly, I became a father
Like 2010, 2011 was a year of transitions for me: in my relationship with academia, in the way I earn a living, in the way I present myself as a citizen-builder of the internet. Being a parent is the biggest transition of all, forcing me to put into perspective the ways I spend my energy and the ways in which I define myself and what has value to me. (This transition has been overwhelmingly a Good Thing.) Continuing to strive for the right balance in these areas will, I’m sure, be a hallmark of my 2012. (Thankfully, I have no plans to have a child or get married in 2012. A man needs a year off from major life events!)
Happy new year!