In January, I set a ton of goals for this year ~ five main ones, but 16 sub-goals. Definitely a case of over-planning and biting off more than I can chew…much less swallow. Now it is nearly 12 weeks into this new year, and I am a bit overwhelmed at my audacity to think I could do so much!
I. Health Goal. This encompassed exercise, nutrition, and cooking techniques. Mostly I have stumbled over the many tree roots and stones in this path.
I have been working on my hiking goal, but only because I tied it to my desire to go to Scotland in the future. So far I have completed 9 hikes with 3 more to go this month. For March, I am working on hikes of 3+ miles. I must admit that I am enjoying my wanderings and the activity.
However, the nutrition and cooking techniques have not been a success. In fact, I have gained weight due to a drastic increase in sugar intake…and my body just does not do well with sugar. I look bad. I feel bad. And, still I reach for the sweets. Ugh! And, I have been eating out more than I should…all that fast food. Double Ugh!!
II. Community Goal. This goal included doing activities more with others, ecological actions, and volunteering.
My past included coffee with Sharon semi-regularly but not quite weekly as well as monthly dinners with my Leather house. I have worked at reaching out to others and asking them to join me. Mostly it has ended up being Carrie…and seeing Sharon more than once in a blue moon. What I have learned is that I also need to do things on my own. So, Battle of Aiken it was. Spent hours in that re-enactment setting interacting with others.
I also learned that I need time with myself. I am an introvert…and interaction too much with others drains my energy. I need that time on my own to regroup my energy.
I have continued to work on being plastic free. Most of my garbage now goes into the compost pile or is burnt in the fire pit. In fact, I only have a full bag of garbage to take to the dump about every other week! I am actually amazed at that.
I am gradually using up those plastic bottles of cleaning and bathing supplies and replacing them with bar soaps or glass containers. I have switched from paper towels to microfiber cloths, which I dearly love! They are so versatile. I still use toilet paper, napkins, and tissues but those are made from bamboo rather than trees. So…I am doing OK with the environment.
The area that I have not even attempted is volunteering. There are lots of opportunities, but none appeal.
III. Interests (multi-goals). Wow, but this one includes so much! Gardening, Photography, Writing, Genealogy.
I must admit that this huge goal has gotten some attention, but I am left with each pulling at my attention and feeling like none are being satisfied. Part of that is due to the fact that I enjoy so many things. The other is that I do not carve out the necessary time to attend to any of them and so it is hit and miss…mostly miss.
Gardening. I really was late doing the planning, so I opted out and bought plants from Home Depot. Ended up with several lettuces, tomatoes, peppers, radishes, broccoli, and brussel sprout plants each. That took up most of my garden space. I also have potatoes growing from sprouted eyes. And a few volunteers that I am not fully sure what they are. I also planted bush beans – lots. So…at this time, I have a fairly established garden.
I also have strawberries, blueberries, and a peach tree blooming. I hope they survive the frost that is sure to come.
Photography. I have been learning how to get comfortable with my camera and take on most hikes. I am trying to learn how to use the tripod and night mode, but those are only tentative starts. I still haven’t explored the Lightroom program that I purchased a year ago. Still haven’t rejoined the Udemy courses that I paid for online.
Writing. I was going to write a short story and was really excited, but so far, no go. I spent a few hours working and thinking about it…and then nothing. I haven’t taken the time to work on it, although I still occasionally think about it. I also read a book by Ray Bradbury that gave ideas on how to write. Great book. Lots of good ideas. I just haven’t tried any of those ideas out…yet.
I am semi-regular in writing this blog; but, my goal was to do it weekly, and that I haven’t done.
Genealogy. I attended a genealogy extension class, but basically I knew most of what was shared, although I did come away with some ideas of how I could proceed. I did join a local genealogy group but I haven’t pursued meetings. And, my library has a new software~ the Ancestry Genealogy Library Edition. I attended the introductory class but the instructor was new to the software, and I already have a private Ancestry account, so I knew as much as he did.
I have done a little of researching the Dean family…but not much more than looking through Census forms. I did join FB pages for Wayne County WVA Genealogical Society as well as the Smyth County VA one. And, I have reached out to each for beginning info.
Overall…middle grade for what I have done on this goal. Maybe a C.
IV. Spiritual Goal. This one wrapped around my life with a focus on finding a group with which to worship as well as recognizing the fact that nature is as much as worship place as a building. Other than finding myself, when hiking alone, talking with my Creator, I have done nothing to pursue more formal worship settings.
V. Others. This is a catch-all goal for all those other activities I want to do or achieve. It included camping, a Scotland trip, budgeting and minimizing possessions.
Camping. I dropped my membership in Sisters of the Fly (a camping group) and backed out of a planned camping trip because the campground had no openings during the expected time. I made active plans (paying for and scheduling) for a NuCamp Smoky Mountain Rally in April that will last 2 weeks as I tacked on a trip to Smyth County VA (genealogy) and a visit to my brother in TN. I also make reservations for a T@DA rally in June in KY. And, I am thinking I might extend that trip into Wayne County WVA (genealogy), although I haven’t done it yet.
Scotland. I added books (non-fiction and fiction) to my reading plan. I have planned the length of my hikes to prepare myself for walking around Scotland. BUT, I have not yet done my vision board or more planning. So far, it is out there in the unknown future.
Budget. My forever goal seems to be to live within my budget. I have seriously not yet managed to do this. My credit cards are not paid up. My eating out frequently is also not helping. Will I ever be able to attain this goal?
Minimize possessions. Last year I started doing a deep cleaning and donating many items to others and charity organizations. But, I still have too much. I am finding that I am being motivated now to get rid of the big piece of furniture in the bedroom that houses electronic stuff I do not use…and all those music CDs, which no one wants.
On the plus side, I did have a friend, who is building her own house, to come and take away much of Ed’s tools. It felt good to give them to someone who was excited about those tools. And, the good part, she knew what they were and how to use them…something that I didn’t have the faintest idea about.
Looking back over what I have written…I’m feeling less depressed and more encouraged. Sure there are areas that I haven’t yet really gotten into, and a few that I have stuck a toe into as if testing the waters. Yet, there are others that I have spent a fair amount of time on or made initial headway toward accomplishing.
Not bad. In fact, pretty good.
I just need to keep trying…doing…and going. Guess I deserve a pat on the back or, maybe, the head. “Good girl”.
Feathers of My Mind 