Did I Do That?

About a year or so ago, I wrote a blog about the difference between making new year resolutions and setting goals. I'm happy to say I chose goals. Had I made resolutions I would have broken every one and proved myself to be a dismal failure. It was bad enough that 2014 was an all-around miserable year. I rarely make promises. My philosophy has always been "Don't make promises you can't keep." At least I can't be accused of breaking them even if said promises are made to myself. If I do make a promise, to myself or someone else (not gonna happen) I have to be at least 90% sure I can carry it through.

 Failure to reach a goal only means you try again.

Putting the past year behind me, I'm ready and willing to start over and try again. If you repeat your goals often enough sooner or later you have to get them right, or at least some of them. What's that saying about practice makes perfect? I've got a lot of practice over the last few years, so how come perfection is still a long way off?

My biggest goal for this year consists of many parts. That goal is to clear the boards of any or most of the incomplete projects sitting around waiting for attention. When my son said he was getting married, I told him I'd make a quilt for a wedding gift. His first anniversary has come and gone and the quilt is still in pieces. The biggest problem is the lack of sufficient space to work. I'm determined to get the quilt top sewn together and on the frame before his next visit. At least he and his wife will get to see what it's going to look like.  In my own defense, during the summer I did crochet an afghan for them and my daughter-in-law loves it. Nothing fancy but she loves the warmth. New England winters are not kind to her since she comes from a much warmer climate.

Then there's the writing. I want to try independent publishing, as well as continue work on a series I have with an electronic publisher. In every partial tale I've been stumped on the plots. There's been some factor that keeps the story from moving forward. I often feel as if the "muse" has taken an overly long vacation. Maybe it's just time to fire her or force her into retirement and see to a replacement. Hmmm, not a bad idea. At best it would mean some fresh points of view. At worst it could mean half-hearted attempts on her part to get back into my good graces. She'd have to work awfully hard to succeed. A new face, a new muse could go a long way toward accomplishing something for a change. Say... a ruggedly handsome face with a totally different perspective on things? Who says a muse has to be feminine?

Anyway, that's my new plan and outlook for 2015. A whole new vision for the coming year. Will it work?  I certainly hope so. It can't be much worse than the previous year and I surely can use a boost to get things done.

Here's hoping all your plans and goals for the New Year will be immensely successful.