I waited to live a bit within the New Year before making my resolutions. I have areas/categories of living that I would like to work on, but nothing that strikes me as fundamentally MAJOR. And that is just fine. I am happy, this year, to concentrate on focus. I’ve had so many great starts last year, exposing myself to so many things…what an opportunity! So now, yes, time to focus. Not add to my resolutions, but increase (a little DPI joke):
In the kitchen/food:
- Make more napkins and towels
- Plan menus to take advantage of pantry
- Bring own tupperware to restaurants
- Order less at restaurants so there is no food wasted–leaving a little hungry is a great excuse to stop somewhere for dessert!
- Can more! We’ve already run out of summer tomatoes…(cue lament)
Art
- improve metal smithing skills
- improve drawing skills
- experiment with different mediums beyond pencil and acrylic
School
- Not much to say, except I started graduate school (finally, after trying to find time for this for the past 3 years) this winter. I’m excited!!
HeiferIn.
- Improve outreach
- Hone Rag Rug Project issues
Write more letters
Finish a season of Growing Growers classes
Set up living room as music studio
Finish winnowing (read: let go) craft materials and donate
And as always…the Superhero MONDO BEYONDO LIST (imagine booming, echoing voice)
1. What do you want to acknowledge yourself for in regard to
2007?
(What did you create? What challenges did you face with courage and strength? What promises did you keep to yourself? What brave choices did you make? What are you proud of?)
Oh, create? Courages and strength…oye. I learned lots of new skills, gained confidence in myself and in my creativity and am somewhat (never completely) over the arthritis using raw foods (against all social judgments) and cutting most dairy, wheat and sugar out of my diet. It is difficult to eat this way in front of old friends, but in the process, I’ve made some new ones!
I am proud that my mom and I have reconciled. I accept that it won’t ever be perfect. I have to say that, because, well, we know in our minds, but our hearts always hope. I am teaching my heart to consider the larger situation at hand…she’s a tough cookie.
I am proud to have influenced my immediate family re: sustainability. They thought I was crazy for wanting a straw bale house back in ‘98. Now they want to create a family “compound” with farm, multipurpose central building etc. on some acreage. I’m not sure if I’m quite THERE yet (slowly with the family issues), but I love that they aren’t holding onto their wallets when looking for organic foods, not to mention actually growing some of their own food in the process!
2. What is there to grieve about 2007?
(What was disappointing? What was scary? What was hard? What can you forgive yourself for?)
I think realizing that you can never completely cure an illness. You can heal, find some stasis, but there is no such thing as a cure. And that is O.K.
Also, forgive myself for spending so much time on my computer this past year–I am addicted to research and can find myself far into the rabbit hole after only 15 minutes. And I hoard these ideas to explore…
I hate how addictive the internet is–I plan on pulling back to my rule from 2006: Humans first (email), work, then 15 minutes of recreational surfing. Keeping a notebook of thoughts while I surf helps me focus. This year will be a particular challenge as one of my classes is offered online (the history of books–oh my! *salivates*)
And it is okay to be messy. I don’t particularly like my house to be messy–it’s hard to think (for me)–but my computer files, my flickr account, my basement, the garage…that is O.K. One at a time–what I’ve found is that as long as I know there is a PLAN, I feel okay about the current status of things. When I say PLAN, I mean deadlines on the calendar, even if it’s for 2 years from now. It allows me to table the thought and concentrate on the now.
3. What else do you need to say about the year to declare it complete?
Okay, the next step is to say out loud, “I declare 2007 complete!” How do you feel? If you don’t feel quite right, there might be one more thing to say…
The final step is to consider your primary focus for the year to come. What is your primary intention or theme for 2008? Is it the year of joy? the year of self-care? the year of partnership?
Stand up and say it proud, “2008 is my year of….”
After you list your intentions, let’s do the list that is truly Mondo Beyondo status. What are the things you are wanting to manifest that are almost too scary to even write down? The ones that elicit a gremlin response of “You can’t have that!” or “Who are you to ask for that?” or “Fat chance. That will never happen. You’re not a good enough….(fill in the blank)”
Okay, Andrea.
I DECLARE 2007 COMPLETE! (had to run around and chant this for a bit, loudly!)
2008 IS MY YEAR OF EXPLODING INTO CREATIVITY–NO APOLOGIES! (that felt so cheesy to type)
I will not apologize for being good at something. I will not give up on something if I’m not immediately talented! I’ve never had issues with this on other aspects of my life, but art…I still feel the box of math and science they crammed me into in high school. No more of that.
Mondo Beyondo…
Internship in Libraries at NPR
Intern abroad!
Make the Rag Rug Project an actual “thing”–make it Awesome
Have a baby (I know, please, don’t pass out)
Refit a diesel car with oil warmers
Build things out of wood–big, sculpture-type things
Learn authentic Vietnamese cookery
Run a race
Visit Alaska
Road trip across the U.S.
Raise chickens
Go to a live concert once a month
Paint something on a canvas taller than myself
Write one song a month
