How About That 2013? (Part 2)

      On January 1, 2013, I made a list of fifty things I might do in 2013.  These were not meant to be high pressure goals but just random thoughts about what lay ahead in the new year.  I checked in in March to see how that list was looking in the light of spring.  Now it's time to see what the mid way point in 2013 looks like.  I'm not going to review everything on the list but I'd like to consider three things that I have actually done and three things that I might still choose to do.

     In March I celebrated the progress made on kitchen improvements and hand surgery.  Neither of those items can be completely checked off the list as done but they continue to move forward.  Item number 12 seems to be a focus for now:  paring down possessions (see Dump It All).  That feels important and freeing.  I know I am also well aware of item number 13:  avoid accumulating even more possessions.   In April, I reveled in the stunning peace and beauty that is Yosemite.  Those few days definitely take the prize for being the highlight of 2013 so far.  I enthusiastically placed item number 7 on the list in January.  I was so jazzed to plan to participate in the A to Z Challenge.  That tower of enthusiasm crashed as April got under way and I moved on.  Some things just don't go the way you planned, you know?

     Reflecting in June on the list made in January makes me keenly aware of how much things change.  For some unknown reason, many of the items on the list don't capture my attention these days.  So be it.  Maybe they will come into focus again later but not now.  I am experimenting with item number 20:  accept the darkness.  I would make it much broader now.  I am learning to accept a lot of things as the way it is.  Not good, not bad. Just the way it is.  Number 28 (Learn what it means to make and apply my own rules to myself) seems to be a theme for these summer months.  I wonder where that will go. I suppose it will be influenced by number 38: engage in frequent and random conversations with myself.  Interesting thought, that one.  Sometimes I feel as if I am the only one available for me to talk to.  The people with whom I might want to talk are, for lots of reasons, just not available right now.  I am an observer, a recorder, and a reflector.  I have to know that a person wants to engage in real conversation before I begin to share any of those self to self conversations.  Real conversation means they will talk back about things that matter.

     In theory, I will check in again in September.  I expect that number 47 (Look for surprises) might be on the agenda.

      

How About That 2013?

     On January 1st of this year, I posted a light list of fifty things that I would like to do in 2013.  This wasn't meant to be a grand to-do list but rather a random collection of ideas to spark the new year.  My plan was (and remains) that I would check back seasonally to see where things are (or are not) going. It's almost springtime so I invite you to see how I am doing with 2013.  I'm not going to go over everything but rather select three accomplishments and note three things which remain in the realm of "we'll see".

   

     Most notably (at the moment) is that I did move forward on item # 14:  Get the right hand repaired.  Details here.  It has been tougher than I imagined but I bet it will be worth it in the long run.  I have also  managed to already accomplish # 26: Visit SF's Museum of Modern Art at least once during the year. Again, details can be found here.  The cool thing is that I have plans for next weekend to visit the classic De Young Museum of Art in Golden Gate Park.  I am jazzed!  We also have already managed to do # 3, #4, and #5.  All of these have to do with updating and refreshing the kitchen.  I like the changes!

   Looking ahead, I know I want to jump on #1 (learn how to organize my on line photos)  soon but realistically?   That won't happen until summer vacation.  Number 39 is to go hiking in the Santa Cruz Mountains with Sonny Boy.  I hope we can do that this spring.  Perhaps to celebrate his birthday in late April?  Take photos of spring wildflowers? That would also allow the fulfillment of # 35!  I could also combine that with # 8 - get back into taking late afternoon neighborhood walks.  Walks can be so relaxing and looking for photo ops adds a layer of interest.

       There are a few other items from that January list on which I have made some progress. There are even more that I have yet to tackle.  We are only two and a half months into the year so I have time.  Look for another update in mid June.

What To Do With 2013

    “For last year's words belong to last year's language 
And next year's words await another voice.” 
― T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets

     On this day last year, I created a list of fifty things I wanted to do in 2012.  Fifty was the magic number.  I hoped to stretch my mind and keep thinking of things I wanted to do rather than just stop at a handful.  I didn't think of these fifty items as goals, more as things that I was interested in pursuing.  No pressure, no big deal.  And then I watched myself during 2012, taking inventory in the spring, summer, fall, and early in December.  I was curious to see which ones would stick and which ones might fall by the wayside, which ones would keep my interest all year and which ones I would toss aside.  True to my original plan, I never did feel any pressure to achieve anything.  The fifty items were simply guideposts for the year.

     Over the last couple of days I have again compiled a list of guideposts for the new year.  I intentionally did not go back and check what I had written last year as I wanted the ideas to come from what was important to me right now, not what mattered last year.  And, for fun and games, I expect to take an inventory again in the spring, summer, fall, and early in December (which feels like a long time away).  I am curious about how they all play out.  Stay tuned.

1.  Learn how to sort through and organize the photos I have taken.  And
      then do that.

2.  Start and continue a Five Year Journal.

3.  Change out the countertops in the kitchen.

4.  Invest in a new kitchen stove.

5.  Remove some of the heavy wood accents from the kitchen.

6.  Investigate and possibly install a new kitchen table arrangement
.
7.  Participate again in the A to Z Challenge in April.

8.  Continue to take walks after work in the neighborhood.

9.  Experiment with paint and new directions.

10.  Go to Chicago.


11. Wait for something to happen.

12.  Go through cabinets and closets and pare down possessions.

13.  Avoid buying unnecessary junk.

14.  Get the right hand repaired.

15.  Get the left hand repaired.

16.  Go to Yosemite Valley in April.

17.  Investigate how to make photos and/or original artwork into stationery and calendars.

18.  Create a doors and windows photo series.

19.  Read more novels.

20.  Accept the darkness.

21. Go to Hawaii with Laura.

22.  Carry my camera as often as possible.  Use it as often as possible.




23.  Foster curiosity.

24.  Visit at least 10 county parks that are new to me.

25.  Become a member and regular visitor at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts.

26.  Visit MOMA in SF at least once during the year.

27.  Go to the DeYoung in SF at least once during the year.

28.  Learn what it means to make and apply my own rules for my own self.

29.   Practice being okay with being unproductive.

30.  Send 52 snail mail notes to people to remind them that they matter to me.

31.  Visit NYC and celebrate my birthday with anyone who can be there.

32.  Learn what surrender means.

33.  Read 26 books and keep active on Goodreads.

34.  Create a few more Saturdays during the school year.

35.  Notice and photograph flowers.

36.  Take the hand of the little girl.  Watch her.  Listen to her.

37.  Make room to experiment and play with cooking real dinners.

38.  Engage in frequent and random conversations with myself.

39.  Go hiking with Alex in the Santa Cruz Mountains at least once before the summer.

40.  Appreciate the temporary.  Notice it everywhere.

41.  Pay attention to the arguments between want and should.  Let want's voice be heard.

42.  Learn how to put the labels on the side of the blog.

43.  Remember the person I wanted to be.

44.  Schedule regular girl time with my best girl.

45.  Clear off my home desk and keep it cleared off.

46.  Explore what it would take to go to an 80% contract at work next school year.

47.  Look for surprises.

48.  Keep the dream journal going.  Listen to what I am saying to me all the time.

49.  Make room on the bench for all the characters who live in my head.  Welcome them all and listen to what they have to say.

50.  Hug myself from time to time.