Over the past couple weeks of illness, I took my Google Reader from about 200 unread blog posts/news articles down to 0. (Paradoxically, this has saddened me because now I have less to look forward to during that precious internet time.) But it has also stimulated my thinking about goals/dreams/resolutions as many people have been musing about these topics as 2011 approaches. Two posts in particular have kept coming to mind: my friend Jen’s “Mommies Dream Too” and my wannabe-friend (she did once comment on my blog 
) Gretchen Rubin’s “Choose One Word To Set the Tone for the Next Year.” I didn’t set any goals or resolutions for 2010, which was wisely done since as I suspected, it was a quite a disorienting year of illness and new mommyhood. But truthfully, I haven’t really ever been a resolution-type of gal, which is why the one-word theme resonates with me so much.
So that’s what I’m doing this year, picking a word to guide my efforts, but not setting rigid time lines or exact tasks. And in honor of James, one of my interviewed men in jail whose interview I have been analyzing of late, I’ve chosen git ‘er done. I know it seems like more than one word, but trust me, to him it’s one, all-encompassing word.
Like I said, it’s not going to be minutely detailed or rigidly planned, but I’m going to try to finish things I start as well as things I’ve started in years past.
Some things I hope to get done this year:
- Thesis
- Three in-process papers submitted to journals
- Reading Getting Things Done (I’ve been in the middle of this book for about a year, and I desperately need to get some sort of system in place for organizing our chaos)
- Rach and Todd’s wedding quilt (you got married in 2004, was it?? Ha!)
- Finish or discard the 50-some blog post drafts I’ve started
- Roll over 403b into Roth IRA (soon enough for it to be for tax year 2010)
- Cross off two or three more states on my life list (although this may be superseded by a new plan to visit my friend Tara in China — she’s only there for two years on her foreign service post, so time is of the essence)
So a few questions for you: Is there anything I’ve promised to do for you and never done? Now’s your chance to remind me (thankfully, my parents don’t read my blog very often . . . their list would be way too long)! Have you ever tried a theme for the year (one word or otherwise)? Did it help? How did you keep it in mind throughout the year? What are you planning for 2011?
So if you don’t make it to China to visit to Tara, you can come visit us when we’re there starting in 18 months. Or, come twice!
Your to-do is ambitious, I’m impressed with your pluck!
Comment by Linsey — December 27, 2010 @ 4:30 pm
Twice would be awesome…after all, you’ll be in two different cities and China is a BIG place! I’ve definitely been mulling that over since your blog post inviting visitors
Comment by llcall — December 27, 2010 @ 6:32 pm
Can I be the mouse in your pocket? (R-E may need to explain that phrase to you.) China!!!
Comment by Lorie — December 27, 2010 @ 6:51 pm
I request:
Photos of a little lady in the clothes she was sent, plus you & Neal in your finery!
Do you have long, elegant, black boots to wear with your skirt? I can’t wait to see Neal in the sweater!
This is a tough/tuff one: will you go clothes/shoe shopping with me and Robin-Elise sometime?
Oh, frabjous joy! My very own live doll to dress!
Comment by Lorie Call — December 27, 2010 @ 7:01 pm
raise of hands for who wants to be dressed like a live doll…anyone? Anyone? I’m afraid, mom, that your best live-doll option is dad. Break out the lederhosen.
Comment by neal — December 28, 2010 @ 12:07 am
How about you, me, and Robin hit an art gallery instead . . . I’m bound to enjoy that far more!
Comment by llcall — December 28, 2010 @ 10:37 am
How freakin’ cool that Gretchen Rubin commented on your blog. I’m more than kinda jealous
I didn’t set a single resolution last year. Not-a-one, and I didn’t even feel bad about it. I’ll have to give more thought to the one-word theme, though I’m not super-confident it’ll work for me this year. However, I actually do have some resolutions I’m turning over and over in my head. WE’ll see if a blog post arises. I enjoyed this post greatly and admire the high-achieving person that you are.
Comment by Jen — December 28, 2010 @ 1:19 am
So cool because just a week ago I was thinking that my theme for next year is going to be “enough”, inspired by my reading of “How much is enough?”, which I highly recommend. I hope to write a post on this topic soon. Love your git’er done though too! I should have that as my secondary theme!
Comment by Vickie Blanchard — December 28, 2010 @ 8:43 pm
Oh boy, I love when my name makes an appearance on this blog. And I got a good chuckle out of you working on our wedding quilt. I definitely don’t want to take away from the major things you have going on in your life, but I can’t wait to see the skeewampusness of the quilt. Hope your Christmas was merry. Love you, sister.
Comment by Rach — December 29, 2010 @ 3:15 am
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