I’m not into numerology. I don’t believe that numbers can predict the future, heal the sick, or unleash any other supernatural powers. They’re great for counting stuff, but little else.

That being said, there is a really cool number I’ve been thinking a lot about lately: 2020. And the more I think about it, the cooler it gets.

20 years ago, I was 20 years old. I turned 20 after spending 20 years in the 20th century. And I’ve since spent another 20 years in this century since the year 2000.

Add 20 and 20 together and you get the age I turn this year. That’s right: the big 4-0.

And guess what happens when you add my birth year with the current year? With the help of a decimal point, we get the age I’m reluctantly turning. 1980 + 2020 = 40.00.

What does this all mean? Absolutely nothing. But it’s fun to think about. And while I don’t believe that numbers can shape our future, I do believe that we most certainly can.

Plans For 2020

So what does 2020 have in store for me? That, I can’t answer. If 2020 is anything like 2019, 2018, or any of the other past 39 years, it’ll be full of curve balls and other surprises – cause that’s just the way life goes.

But here’s a question I can answer: What do I have in store for 2020?

Well, for starters, it’s going to be a big year – that much I already know. The first six months of 2020 will be spent working on a new young adult urban fantasy series I’m currently plotting. That’s my main focus for the next several months.

I also have the finished first draft of a memoir I wrote last year about living with Behcet’s Disease, a rare autoimmune condition. At some point, I need to start editing it to get it ready for publication. I’d like to get it out at some point in 2020.

And lastly, I’m going to continue to write weekly articles for The Nootropics Zone and monthly posts to this website. I’m not quite sure what direction I want to go with this blog. My posts have been all over the place. I should pick a topic or two (writing, travel, etc.) to focus on, but I haven’t decided yet.

In addition to my writing goals, I’ve also set some fitness goals for myself in 2020. I’ve been going to the gym for over a decade now. And over time, my interest in working out goes up and down. For the past year or so, it’s been down – way down. In 2019, I averaged three workouts a week, which is the bare minimum I force myself to do.

Me swimming with dolphins in Key Largo.

This year, I need to get to the gym at least four times a week. I’m going to shoot for five or six days a week, but four will be my minimum. And I’m also cleaning up my diet. In 2019, I let my nutrition slip quite a bit. My sweet tooth has a way of creeping up on me if I’m not vigilant. I need to limit my sweets and make sure I’m getting enough protein.

The only other goal I have for myself in 2020 is to continue to travel. I just got back from a trip to Miami Beach and Key Largo which was amazing. I’m not sure where I’ll end up going in 2020, but I’ll probably take a trip out to the Midwest to visit family in the summer and I’m talking to someone about maybe going to Mexico City for a week or so. But other than that, who knows where I’ll end up. All I know is that I can’t wait to find out.

Happy New Year!

If you’re reading this, I hope you have an awesome 2020. Do you have any goals for the year? If so, I’d love to hear about them. Feel free to leave a comment below.

And if you haven’t already, sign up for the Ellis Michaels newsletter. I don’t send many emails, but I’ll let you know when I have a new release coming out or if anything particularly interesting is happening in my world.

Happy New Year! Let’s all have a great 2020!