I started something in 2015 which saw me going back and forth to a list I had written at the end of the year before. It was a list of goals of things I wanted to accomplish — from the mundane and ordinary to first time things I wanted to do. I did periodic updates and tried to be guided by that list, and while I didn’t quite get to successfully accomplish all of them, having the tasks served as a reminder of my focus for the year. So here is this year’s list, partly taken from the previous year’s.
1. Read six books. – Take two. Right now I’m in the middle of reading the second book of what I had hoped would be six last year. I have the month to finish that and hopefully get this done in 2016. (#6BooksIn2016)
2. Plan my trip to Boston. – Boston has officially given me an invitation to visit and I am planning to do that, but hopefully when the temperatures ease up a bit. While it has been a temperate winter, you never know how much snow is in the horizon and they get a ton of it on that side of the coast!
3. Learn something new via an actual class every quarter of 2016. I’ve been hit with a slew of “I want to learn..” moments, and among these are (1) sewing, (2) proper pearl stringing, (3) proper knitting. I have all these projects churning in my head and if I find the time, I know I can get to it.
4. Watch at least 1 concert. I will try to make this a less ambitious task by actually not specifying which one. Maybe I will get to do it in 2016.
5. Go to the gym at least once a week — and maybe even earn a locker! (Go 10x the previous month and you get YOUR OWN LOCKER the following month.) – After losing half the weight I gained over the holidays in the first week of 2016, I am inspired to think this is something I can definitely do better at this year.
6. Lose another 10 lbs at least by April this year. (Lost over 20 in 2014 and maintained my weight in 2015.) – I have a few more to get to my pre-2015 holiday weight. I think 10 before April should be reasonable, unless I go berserk again when I eat.
7. On positivity: Get the ball rolling on the Thank You Postcard Project – I must confess that the concept is there but I am a having a difficult time zeroing in on the mechanics. So first quarter, figure that one out. Q2 produce the postcards. Q3 and Q4, roll out.
8. Find a rehearsal studio and actually spend an hour just touching the piano keys again. Hopefully in the spring.
9. Work more earnestly on my craft blog. It pains me to see that my last post in that corner was in October yet. I had promised to post regularly and unlike here where I post spontanously, I tailorfit my writing to take on a certain slant over there. 52 posts in 2016.. that’s the goal.
10. Work on creating one piece every week, whether for sale in the shop, a gift for friends or to wear myself.– That means 52 pieces for the year.. easily doable!
11. Leave one pre-loved book out in the open once a month for someone else to enjoy/read. – I am going to get this going by choosing the 12 books to give away. I think one reason it was forgotten was that I never got down to doing that and I didn’t make a conscious effort to get it rolling. Now that I am actually trying to declutter, I think I’ll make this a weekend project and start it off this month.
12. Write one long hand letter or card every month. As someone who loves to receive handwritten notes or letters or cards, I actually enjoy writing them as well. Besides trying to keep the post office relevant
13. Start a new Art Journal. The Art Journal I’m working on has been a work in progress since September 2012. I think it’s about time I closed it but there are still some layouts left to be done. I haven’t written or drawn there as much as I had hoped in the last couple of months, but I’m trying to catch up.
14. Destash: Give 5 items away from my current stash (clothes, books, art supplies, postcards) every month beginning March. I am so ready to part with things and I had sent two balikbayan boxes home with old clothes and things I no longer have any use for. I think for 2016, I will create little packages to send to friends who I know will enjoy them more, or to leave behind for strangers to find.
15. Write poetry again. I have not written any poetry since I arrived here in New York, 15 years ago. So that’s a lot of catching up to do.
16. Celebrate my birthday by doing 50 feel-good deeds. I saw an ad yesterday morning which had this blurb: “Simply waking up is amazing.” Isn’t that so true? We really need to appreciate life more by giving back. I’ll keep it at that for now. But I truly believe that one good way of showing how grateful we are is by sharing what we have. I don’t have much, but I think I have enough to keep me in good shape, and I have just enough to still be able to share.
Wish me luck on this year’s list — but somehow, I’m doubly confident that I will get more accomplished. It can only get better.
Pinay New Yorker 