New Years' Resolution Mid-Year Check-In

These were my 13 resolutions for 2013. My response is below each one.

What? I can take sexy selfies in my car too, you know.

New Years' Resolutions for 2013

1. This year my #1 most important goal is to complete the novels that I strove so hard to write in the first place. I have never yet successfully revised a novel to completion, but I dream of it, and that which you dream of you ought to achieve, lest your life be wasted. So when all else fails, this dream must be my main focus. That's why it's #1. 

Not going so well. I have only added another several to the list of incomplete novels, as well as adding about 30,000 words to a novel without adding a single bit of coherence to it. Need to get on the ball with this.

2. Next, I want to learn to sew and do it well. My husband bought me a sewing machine for Christmas and I've already done a few silly, pattern-less projects on it and they've turned out all right for a first-timer. I want to be able to make myself an article of clothing, and to create gifts for my friends and family this year. 

 

Going well. I've made quite a bit. 

3. I hope to work extra hard on promoting TreasuredDetails. I love my little shop, and it's been a source of joy for me since I started it in June 2010. I just love creating beautiful designs for people who appreciate them and can't wait to be called upon to do more. This goal involves me trying to enter a craft or bridal show this year as well! 

 

Did not do much with TD, though I have made a few sales! Including one I just remembered I need to ship....

4. Keep a journal. I've already been working on this one and made a post about it a few weeks ago. See that post here.

It's sporadic at best.

5. Travel outside the U.S. I want to make it my goal to visit England this year, but I'm not sure if that one's in the cards this time. If not, Canada will do :)

Ha, good one. I've barely left the state of Indiana this year.

6. Spend some time visiting friends. I have a lot of friends around the country, and since I moved away from home in 2012, I learned the value of friends who want to visit (as well as their actual visits!) and I want to do the same for my faraway friends.

See #5

7. Make new friends! I am determined to be less antisocial in my new city, to get involved in things, and to meet new people. And that means more people than my friendly neighborhood Starbucks baristas!

I made 2 new friends this year. Sort of.

8. Join a Bible study group.

Fail.

9. Organize and downsize my life! Moving has taught me that I own too much stuff. I want to store the stuff I need and lose the stuff I don't. I want to make my house neat and organized, with a minimum of clutter and knickknacks.

Project reorganization never continued beyond my closet, though everything is still poised for the job. I think I will plan to work on those projects once Nick is traveling during harvest season.

10. Eat healthy. My husband and I try not to eat UNhealthy, but our efforts to eat healthy come in spurts. I'd like to include more fresh vegetables and meats into our diet and remove more sugars and artificial ingredients.

We are doing MUCH better in this department. This one is a win.

11. Resume winter workout. I started a body bulking workout before Christmas, but time is not in my favor over the holidays. I haven't decided whether my body is ready for weights or if I'd rather venture into something like yoga, because I do truly need some flexibility! But I will be doing something this year.

Shoulder injury shorted me on this one, and I still haven't really resumed. This is also a fall activity in the works.

12. Write more letters. I feel like the lost art of letter writing has really gotten lost. I used to write letters non-stop, and it's just tapered off over the years. Friends, I've just bought some new stationary. You'll hear from me soon :)

I wrote a few in the winter, been thinking about some, but I'm just too busy!

13. Relax more. I really need to learn to relax, and I don't mean sleep. I mean de-stress! I haven't felt anything less than all keyed up since I started college, and that was almost a decade ago. I remember what they say about stress levels and early death (remember, but can't think about it because it stresses me out. Figures!)

Still working on this one. 

 

See you in 5 months for a final summary and a brand new list. Maybe 13 whole resolutions was a little ambitious...