2011 Goals (Not Resolutions)

I don't do well with resolutions.  I don't do all THAT well with goals, come to that - but at least goals sound like something to aim for.  Resolutions, in my eternally adolescent rebellion-brain immediately sound like something to break, find a loophole, or otherwise work around rather than through.

Most of my goal-energy this year is centered on the culmination of a couple of huge life projects and just about everything else is secondary to these:

1.  See my youngest child through to independence.  I'm not really ready for her to an adult yet... I'm absolutely sure she's not really ready for it herself.  But she graduates in June, with full intentions to move out and stay in this area and I can't stay here any longer.  So  I'll be helping her figure out her own goals and path and then keep the door to join me wide open if it doesn't work out.

2. My second goal - and the reason why I can't just stay here and be a home base to her if she needs it, is to move back to the DC area to live with (and eventually marry) Michael.  This has been a long time in the making... and for the last three years, it's been delayed so hat my youngest could finish out her high school years here without needing to go through a large transition.  (Giving her that bit of steadiness was simply vital - her father left a lot of chaos and instability when he left, and putting her through any more just felt like horrible parenting.. thank goodness for Michael's patience and understanding on that score.

So most of my goals involve some form of preparation for these two - sorting through possessions... what's to take, what's to pass on to children... what's to sell or give away or toss. Etc, Etc.  I need to create a big breakdown for all that - but not here publicly, and not today.  So...

3. Make a breakdown of steps needed to relocate.

My other goals are the more usual personal development or those intended to create order or to put a sense of fun into mundane tasks by creating 'rules'.

COOKING

4. Try to use my crock pot at least every other week - once a week preferred.

5. Make soup more often - once every couple weeks.  If this becomes a habit, once a week.

6. Organize and put together family recipes into an official family cookbook to be given to each of my girls.

7. Work toward developing the habit of getting away from processed foods in favor of 'real' foods.  This goal will kick into higher gear after I move (and I go from "I feel so deprived" from Deanna to supportive Michael).

8. Using the 10-minutes Artisan bread system, develop the habit of weekly breadmaking.

CLEANING

9. Get back into the habit of a cleaning/decluttering routine.

CRAFTS

10. Work on my Jan 15 Challenge projects and try to get as many of them finished by the end of the year as possible.  (And try to ignore how 15 as a number for a 12 month year just hurts my brain)

11. Make one Christmas themed ornament a month so I don't try to make 12 of them in one month like this year.

12. Make one seasonal themed ornament for each turn of the Wheel, for my year 'round tree.

ONE MORE FOR LUCK

13.  Stop fretting.  (That one is with a smile to Michael, who told me I fret too much, and is correct)

Pieces of Fate is working to build up a list of those doing Goals, NOT Resolutions - go check them out and add your own!