Revisiting Goals

Just a year ago, I wrote a blog about the differences between making resolutions and goals. I opted for the goals and resolved to keep them. One BIG resolution broken. Due to family problems it was difficult to work toward my monthly writing goals, so 2013 wasn't such a productive, "wordy" year.

So...if resolutions aren't such a good idea and goals were hard to reach, what's to be done about them?
I decided to renew last year's goals but look at them differently. Sometimes a different point of view and a new approach makes the goal easier to reach. You have to find what works for you.

Nothing like starting the New Year off with a bang, and I don't mean the anticipated fireworks. I do love to watch that crystal ball at Times Square when it's lit up and before it drops. The changing colors and patterns are fascinating and have me imagining what some of the color schemes and patterns would look like in a quilt. (Not that I recall, a couple days later, what I saw). To me, that pre-drop is the best part of the show.

What's that got to do with setting goals? It's a prerequisite to getting creative. Have you ever noticed how one creative idea can lead to something else creative and yet not be related? I'm sure that made a whole lot of sense. I can watch something like that and at some point come up with an idea for a totally unrelated project. Before you know it, you have a whole slew of ideas you're just itching to get to and know you can't. So you make a list, check it twice (oh...that's Christmas. Wrong holiday, wrong character). You prioritize all the things you'd like to do and before you know it your year is filled with good intentions.

The problem is, some of those goals end up leading to boring projects and they get left by the wayside. In a few months or even years, you might come across it again and consider taking it up where you left off. (I've done that a few times.) That is, if you can recall exactly what you were doing to begin with. (Ever try picking up an incomplete crocheted afghan and try to figure out what stitch you were using? More often than not, taking apart a few stitches doesn't help.)

Some of those goals have to be considered in the respect of time and expense. Is it something you really want to invest in, or is it a whim? Enthusiasm can be a good guide on that score. Something might be nice, intriguing or present something of a challenge, but if it doesn't really set us on fire at the time, maybe it's better to put it into a filler list. One of those things you'd like to do but there's no hurry to get around to it.

I don't believe in setting goals on New Year's Eve or the holiday itself. You need time to get away from the holiday hype and give serious thought to the coming year. Today is a good day to make some decisions. I have three manuscripts I want to get finished and ready for submission. Then there's the queen size quilt I promised my son for a wedding present (he and his wife will have it for their first anniversary). A 1500-piece jigsaw puzzle sits on the table and every time I go by it, I spend a few minutes looking for and putting together a few pieces. That's my break from creativity. As to reading? I fit that in every night before I go to sleep.

Yeah, it's a full schedule, but that means I don't have time to get into trouble. (hahaha) Will I have everything done by 2015? Who knows...but it'll sure be fun trying.