For a while now, at the beginning of each year I have set a list of goals for myself for that year. These are not set tasks to accomplish or resolutions, but ideas and goals to be more mindful about in the coming year. At the end of the year, I like to look back and see what those goals manifested and how they pertained to this blog.
Here are what my goals list looked like for 2017 and my thoughts on how they went:
Work on Personal Endeavors as Much as My Job
In 2015 I wrote: "I have to make my art and sewing a priority in my life and not let working at my job be the only or most urgent thing that drives me". Ever since then, I have been working towards this goal, that has come to not only encompass Art but also other important aspects of my Life outside of a job. After we moved, in late 2015 and early 2016, I tried very hard to take a break from a job, I tried to work outside of the house less and in the house more. It had mixed results but it gave me a lot of insight into myself and how I work, and what work means to me, both my own and my job. This year, I plan on further committing to working a job less and working for myself more. One idea I have for this, inspired by my new beach town life style, is to make Summer the time that I work my job more and play harder, and Winter the time that I focus on my own endeavors. Seasonal living is totally new to me, but I see many possibilities there.
Well, goal #1 didn't go exactly as I planned bc mid year my job asked me to take on more responsibility and a lager role. I accepted this new role and started training and learning what I needed. Now, I love to work, often times to the detriment of my life, so this was a hard choice, but over all I'm very happy with it. It meant abandoning my plan to work seasonally, as I would not be going back to part time in the Fall. This new role will provide me opportunity to learn and grow in my field and to save more money, both of which I'm very excited about. My challenge has been and will be to balance work with home life and creative endeavors. I have high hopes for the coming year.
Be a Better Quilter, Be a Better Blogger
I want to increase my quilting skill, learn more, push myself. I want to be a better and more consistent blogger.
I feel this is another constant in my life, trying to improve my skill level in the things I love. I do think I made strides in this goal, but there's so much room to grow!!
Improve Tree
Oh!!
Solstice
January Honey
Pineapple
Day into Night
Tide Pool
Blog Round Up
Cobblestones
Honey Pot Bee
Basket
Crosswalk
Spool
Tidy Rows
Spotlighting the Vintage
Love
Echo Fragment
Star Fraction
Coffee Shop
House Block
Evolution of a Stitch
Math
Jacob's Ladder
Starry Sky
Studio Time
Honey Bee
Circle
Machine
Precious Fabric
Friendship
Cross
MCQBOM²
/3
Improv Quilting
/4
/5
House, Cats, Plants, Family, Friends, Health
Another goal to level up in aspects of my life. This goal includes things like; eating better, drinking more water, exercising more, daily walks, daily stretching, cat contemplation and cat care, making our house more truly our home and being better at caring for it, heading towards a more minimal lifestyle and getting rid of things we do not need, organizing, using up and not buying new, reusing, recycling, keeping our plants healthy and happy so that our home is rich and lush, keeping up with my bujo, making sure to catch up with and stay in contact with family and friends, making sure to be mindful of the health and happiness of my immediate family, my larger family and my community, and there's more! But this goal is overall, to strive for a more caring and mindful way of life.
This was a huge goal that encompassed soooo many things and aspects of my life I wanted to be mindful about!! I think I did really well with this in 2017 and only plan to improve next year. A few things on this list solidified into more concrete concepts, like starting my zero waste/plastic free journey, getting over cat loses and rescuing a new kitty, consuming far less than any other year, etc...
Shelfie 003
Records
Shelfie 004
Bullet Check In
Jan Plants
Feb Plants
Something New: Capsule
Mar Plant
Simple Swap: Green Tea
Spring
Letter Writing
Shelfie 005
Apr Plant
May Layout
May Plant
June Plant
Summer
July Plant
Plastic Free July
Blog Log
Succulent Care
Aug Plant
Sewing Tracker
The Zero Waste Post
Autumn Goals
Sept Plant
Autumn
Hummus
My favorite Jars
Future Log
Oat Milk
Oct Plant
Jersey Collective
What We Already Do
Blog Log Check In
Nov Plant
Cloth Napkins
Dry Shampoo
Best Nine
Dec Plant
12/16/17
Programming
Less TV / More Books
I watched a lot of TV in 2016. Not actual TV bc we don't have that, but a seemingly endless stream of mindless consumption of media. Already, after major life changes in December 2016, I've started to watch way less. I've watched some, but moved over to more movies, and more mindful watching. But I could and should always read or listen to books more.
Wow, going through these goals now, it feels like I have failed and won at all these goals at the same time. It seems that nothing I had planned went the way I was hoping but I do feel that I was living mindfully and I would call almost all of these successes! As for Less TV, um no, fail. I watched soo much tv which is very lame. But I did read a fair amount and feel good about that.
Please Kill Me
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Prestige
Ghostman
Jaws
The Price of Salt
Sunny's Nights
Down East Murders
Buddhism for Beginners
Hand Poked Tattoos
In 2016, I started learning the art of Stick and Poke tattooing. I plan to continue this in a more purposeful manner in 2017.
I only did one tattoo this year, but I plan on making this a priority for 2018.
Travel When Possible, Explore When Not
We were unable to travel far in 2016, this coming year we are slightly less tethered so I would like to travel more. When we cannot travel, exploring near our home should be a priority.
I like this goal, and although we didn't travel or explore as much as I would ideally like, I feel good about the results.
Bernina
Atlantic City Aquarium
4th Anniversary
French Market
From The Garden
Whitesbog
Atlantic Farms
Hall Of Gems
Quilt More.
No further explanation needed.
Mat for Oillie
Pillow for Pit
Gypsy Moon
Moth Moon
Whale Teeth
Tom's Mat
You can find this post for 2016 here.
How do you feel about your 2017 goals? Did you meet them? Did you exceed them? Are you ready for 2018?