Thursday, January 8, 2015

2015

I finally had some time earlier this week to sit down and think about what I want to accomplish in the year ahead (apparently resolutions are out and intentions, plans, words, and feelings are in. It all amounts to the same thing, though, doesn't it? Reflecting on the year past and investing your hopes and dreams and desires into the one ahead.)

Why, yes, our Christmas stockings are still hanging up. You never know when Santa might swing by for a follow-up visit.

I finally ran out of time--but not resolutions--once I had filled three pages (three 8 1/2 x 11 tablet pages). My goals ranged from the prosaic--clean out the basement, catch up on photo albums, get a handle on my computer storage issues--to the pie in the sky--big travel and book-writing plans. There are crafty plans on the list--quilts for E and Z (with no illusion that they will get done this year...just progress) and knitting up all my stash. There are healthy plans (exercise more; eat less...but not until I finish off the eggnog). There are cooking plans. There are goals for improving my photography skills and ideas about drawing. There are lots and lots writing intentions. I ran out of time before I got to personal growth goals, but I'll get to them soon.

It's a long list. A bit overwhelming. I haven't had time to break the items down into manageable chunks, with timeframes and deadlines, and mini goals along the way, not to mention strategies for overcoming obstacles. For now I'll face it--and life--one day at a time. Or, as it were, one weekend at a time. Here are my plans for this weekend:

NEED to do
Take down the Christmas tree and decorations (I know, I know, I know)
Write and send thank-you notes 
The usual housework
Dissect an owl pellet (for reals...it's homework)
Catch up on winter weed homework

WANT to do
Get started on a couple of essays that are floating around in my mind.
Finish making a cover for a couch pillow that I started ages ago.
Knit while watching MI5
Read
Hike down to the river
Make tamales with a friend
Get started on my capstone project 

Sounds like a three-day weekend is in order (E and Z have been hoping for a school- and work-cancelling blizzard with such fervor, it just might happen). 

Do you make resolutions--or goals, plans, intentions, words, feelings--for the new year?
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13 comments:

  1. susanJanuary 8, 2015 at 7:32 PM

    Hi Andrea - You've certainly got quite a bit on your plate. Is there some way you can simplify things a bit so you're not feeing so overwhelmed? Maybe you can sit down with a glass of that eggnog and redo your list a bit - and enjoy the new year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AndreaJanuary 9, 2015 at 5:56 AM

      Ha! You're right, Susan. I always like to bite off a lot more than I can chew.

      Delete
  2. Kim January 9, 2015 at 2:43 AM

    Sounds like you are set for a productive year ahead. Have fun!

    And owl pellets, a girl after my own heart. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AndreaJanuary 9, 2015 at 5:56 AM

      Thanks...hopefully all will go well pellet-wise and I'll be posting about the experience here next week.

      Delete
  3. autumnJanuary 9, 2015 at 4:38 AM

    the thing about resolutions, is that there is usually a sort of guilt-trip attached to them. things i really SHOULD have done but have put of, bad me. lol
    they are also boxed and catalogued things.
    intentions are an open-hearted approach to the time ahead.

    saying - 'i will lose weight' is very very different to saying, i will go into the year with the intention of self-nourishment. no guilt or stress or prescription on the latter, and it has so many levels of what that means. there are no shoulds in intentions.

    that doesn't mean that goals and are To Do list are bad either! just a different thing.

    this year i chose a word, for the first time, and it may change half-way down the calendar :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AndreaJanuary 9, 2015 at 5:57 AM

      Good point, Monica. Although I've usually forgotten my resolutions by the end of the year, so I don't feel too much guilt about not sticking with them.

      Delete
  4. UnknownJanuary 9, 2015 at 7:02 AM

    Sometimes I think it's good to have a big list, not necessarily because you're going to do every single thing, but more because it give you lots to choose from when you have a free Saturday. Enjoy some of those want to dos!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AndreaJanuary 12, 2015 at 6:58 AM

      The longer the list, the greater the chances of accomplishing something on it!

      Delete
  5. Yanic A.January 9, 2015 at 9:53 AM

    I had to re-read the beginning of your post to realize the list was just for this week-end! Yikes! Good luck, you are braver than I am... I got anxious just reading it. Did I mention I'm horrible with lists? We didn't set resolutions, but proceeded to write down a mantra, or mission statement for the year for our whole family. It was quite refreshing because in doing so we are leaving ourselves open. If progress is made, than we have achieved our goal. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AndreaJanuary 12, 2015 at 7:00 AM

      I like lists...even if I don't cross anything off, I feel better just having written one (and sometimes, if I do something not on the list, I add it to the list just so I can cross it off). A mission statement sounds impressive...how did you get your other family members on board?

      Delete
  6. AliJanuary 9, 2015 at 1:47 PM

    After reading other bloggers I decided to have a word for this year, ENJOY. But like you I have long lists, it can't be avoided. I hope you get some of your list completed without the help of a bad storm :) have a wonderful weekend.
    Ali xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AndreaJanuary 12, 2015 at 7:01 AM

      ENJOY is definitely something I could/should do a lot more of. Great word!

      Delete
  7. Lone Star MaJanuary 17, 2015 at 9:51 AM

    Don't forget to send an essay to Lone Star Ma who loves you!

    ReplyDelete

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