Failed the Imperial Examination? Become a legendary doctor instead!

Well the Scholarship month in the Year of Sagely Living is drawing to a close. And with some chagrin I must admit that it has been a less than stellar showing from yours truly. I've barely managed to get the reading in that I want. I am frustrated by my ability to fall asleep upon opening a book. I am also not thrilled that even at the speedy rate that I read, I always feel that it is just taking too long. My notetaking is faring worse. It may be characterologically impossible for me. I am also no closer to embarking on a doctoral program or another degree than last year. And I have not produced an article this month. So in short I accomplished none of my stated directives.

On the positive end of the spectrum, I have put away the laptop more consistently. As noted recently, I've adopted the Sunna of sleep and silence in the evening. I began the practice of Shaolin Wahnam Kung Fu. I will also gladly report that I attended the Orlando Suhba and the learning and doing curve was steep, Praise be to God. I'm adopting the Maliki madhab, and without delving into detail too much, it has been the right decision: a heart choice. So I've been absorbing as much material on the Malikis as possible. I finally read the Zen to Done e-book, and I'm getting more organized. My wife and I have contracted the help of a professional organizer and consultant. Recently a very exciting prospect evolved that has me really looking forward to next month's business and planning goals.

I'll be interpreting the goals for each month in a different way based on my experience. My goal will be to develop less outcome-oriented goals and more long-term sustainable habits. Not to dive into a month-long intensive, but to gradually set the stage each month for a lifetime of sagely actions. My sense is that this will foster the specific productivity goals eventually.
I have become keenly aware that before I am ready to set goals, I must envision the bigger picture more clearly. I see some writing and brainstorming in my immediate future.

In short, I am satisfied with the areas where I made progress, even though I am loathe to discuss them too publicly. Most of them are in my spiritual and family life, and that matters most. Of this, I am sure. Far from being a hobgoblin, consistency is a blessing. Praise be to God, Mighty and Majestic.