life, love & laundry
Goals (2 down / 33 to go – or – 4 down / 361 to go)
I have no new years resolutions. Every year we jot down our likes and dislikes, goals and predictions. It’s fun to revisit them in a year from now. Oddly almost all of my goals and predictions came true. Every single one of Tony’s did not and, in fact, could not be further from the truth. It’s a funny thing about goals and resolutions. Although I resolved to do a few things that really sounded important to me at the time, now that I’ve accomplished those goals, I’m finding that they were the exact opposite of what I needed and what I want now. Maybe it was the circumstances that drew me to accomplish the goals, rather than the goals themselves. But I resent the hell out of those goals. One year I resolved to have a peaceful, drama-free, boring year. Really what could be better than that? This year, although I do feel all new-leafish in some regards, I just feel too defeated by 2009 to bother with the whole resolution business. This year, for my goal, I wrote that I just want to survive. That feels like enough. Some days that feels impossible. So that’s my goal. And when I think of it, it makes me really sad. And depressed. Life should be about more than just surviving. Where’s the joy? Maybe joy will be part of 2011. Or maybe 2010 will surprise me. One thing is for sure, if I make it to 2011, I’ll have succeeded in my goal :)
So that was depressing.
On a happier note, like I said I do feel a bit new-leafish in some areas.
Lulu’s mama, Emily, inspired me to create some birthday countdown goals. She’s younger than me and, therefore, her birthday goal list is shorter than mine. But, none the less, I created my own list of 35 things I want to accomplish before turning 35. I think I need to accomplish, more or less, 2 goals a week to make my deadline in May. But so far, so good. My list isn’t exotic or far-reaching. It’s pretty mundane, actually, in many ways. But I tried to work some memorable moments (Sea World! and flying a kite!) and long-put-off goals in there (like finally publishing Addy’s lifebook for her and working on her 100 wishes quilt).
This week’s accomplished goals:
* read nicholas sparks’ “Dear John” (in anticipation of the movie) (see? Not exactly high-reaching goals)
* set up a good photo organization system for 2010. (Thanks to a well-articulated plan and Lightroom 3, we have liftoff!)
Also I mentioned last week that I’m also doing Project 365 this year. I decided the hard part is the pressure to post daily so I removed that from the equation. I will post every 7th day for the previous 7 days. It’s only the 4th of January but so far, so good. Today was not easy. I worked all day, did not leave my room other than for dinner. However when I met a girlfriend for a much-anticipated late-night coffee date I was able to use my iPhone to meet my goal.
This year I’m doing monthly color themes for my photos and so far it is MUCH easier than just trying to find inspiration on my own. I’m pretty sure I lack an inspirational or creative gene in my body. I need guidelines and goals and directives. Zeroing in on white things really feeds the creativity and helps me stay focused and not overwhelmed. I think this project is going to be a lot of fun. Again, it’s only 4 days in but I’m feeling pretty good about it already.
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A peaceful drama-free year would be nice, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately that is all way beyond our control. Something about other people in the world and in our lives . . . Don’t be depressed by the goal to just survive. Sometimes that’s all we can do, and that is okay. Because if we survive? Then we get to the point where we can do more, find the joy, and really shine. Until life kicks us in the rear and all we can do is survive again. It’s just the way it works (which is very hard for me to keep in perspective at times).
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Love “Dear John” and didn’t know they were making it into a movie. How is it I can go a year or two only wanting to see two or three movies total and now my list is full of movies I want to see/can’t wait for!
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I am really praying that 2010 is a much, much better year for you all!! Love ya!
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Yeah, I’m kinda in the same place you are in regards to 2010 – just survive. And yeah, it’s sad that I can’t jump into this year full of hope and inspiration like many others are, but there are things I’ll be dealing with that will be big and challenging and I just hope to do better with them than I did the last time I faced similar things. But hey, yeah, let’s figure 2011 is our year! You do sound like you have some fun things planned though, and I’m excited for you!
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ok, so todays post finally showed up on my RSS feed. so weird.
hopefully it is working now.
so excited you are doing a list! i am actually having so much fun with mine.
and great idea with posting pics once a week. i am just posting every day for as long as i can go. but i dont expect it to last too long.
love | miss.
em
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