Baby Steps Towards Annual Goals

Two things:  I like baby steps. I don't like "New Year's Resolutions."  And these two things are connected.

Resolutions seem too big.  Too definite, unyielding, unforgiving.  They also seem fated to fail, the New Year's variety in particular.  A momentary resolve spurred by holiday excess that naturally falls away once the hangover fades.  A new habit of hitting the gym before work falters with the first late night movie, cold or conflict and never gets picked up again.

Baby steps! Photo by Kellie O'Donnell

On the flip side baby steps can be very insidious - in a good way.  You don't have to eat healthy (always, every time, forEVER) - you just have to eat some vegetables this one time right here.  You won't even notice it.  You don't have to run a marathon, just one mile right now.  Or just put some running shoes on and see what happens.  Kinda like when I cleaner my house instead of clean my house.  I'm going for cleaner, not clean.  Expectations instantly evaporate and I have nothing but positive accomplishment that feeds on itself and creates a perpetual positive feedback loop.

So I don't do New Year's resolutions.  I do like to have goals and often will do some reflecting upon and/or setting of goals around my birthday.  My birthday was almost three months ago and I didn't write goals down as they aren't terribly coherent.  But the theme goes something like this:

• Art
• Relationships & connections (friends, family, community)
• Food

I keep trying to nail it down in some sort of "goal" or "statement." That isn't really working for me but here are some examples:

• Taking a Food & Nutrition class online through Edx.com and McGill University.  It is a 14-week basic chemistry class, takes a good chunk of time each week and has assignments and tests and such.  It is for serious.
• A winter pottery class making mugs and bowls and such for some family and friends.  I chat with pottery friends at open studio about the best way to do pottery thingies. 
• Stay connected with far flung friends despite the lack of in person-ness. 
• Support my beautiful artist step-mom and her amazing book binding and watercolors.
• Keep posting on this here blog.
• A summer relay running race with friends in July.
• Reading, reading, reading.
• Knitting lots and lots of baby hats for all the progeny friends and family are spouting.
• Cook tasty & healthy food.  Serve it to people in my pots!

It is a bit scattered, a bit squishy, but it's all aiming at trying to cultivate a little more peace, a little more beauty.  For me and for those I love.