Originally published 1/20/2020
I’ve had this post drafted since the beginning of the year but I have been holding off looking for graphics. (Note to self: Don’t wait next time.) Halfway through the first month of the year, I’m hitting “publish”. This is a list that hasn’t changed much but which I like to keep to sort of give me some guideposts for the coming year. I don’t like making resolutions — I prefer to be specific and set goals. There’s a few staples and an addition or two- just tweaking the list a bit to adjust to the times. And one new addition is a cadence or schedule to just keep me on the ball.
1. Read six books. – I will keep the books nearer to me to make it easier. Sometimes, I find that I’m too tired and I end up getting sleepier when I open a book. But the goal remains. I am also reading on my devices. As of this writing, I have at least 3 unfinished reads, and I am determined to close one out before January ends.
2. Travel to one destination outside the tri-state area. – I have a few destinations in mind for 2020, and this is one of the items I find easiest to accomplish, even if it takes some planning. I almost got to do this this first half of January with a planned trip with the family back in Manila, but their visas didn’t get released on time. If we do get to go in March, then I will be able to chalk this off my list. Otherwise, my favorite niece is arriving for a long vacation here in the summer, and she and I can do a weekend trip together.
3. Learn something new via an actual class. It’s one of a few things, but just need to plan more specifically. I might start with learning to knit properly, for starters. I actually learned how to using plastic chopsticks and my encyclopedia which had step by step instructions. While there are a ton of YouTube videos that give step by step instructions, I find that learning from a master is invaluable in getting things right.
4. Take better care of myself by exercising, losing more weight. It’s not just looking and feeling good, but the truth of the matter is this is now a necessity given that I’m getting older. 2019 saw me dieting but not making progress with the exercise. Not good, I know. I need to get started before the month is over.
5. Visit Central Park all four seasons. We’ve had a very mild winter and one of my dreams is to visit Central Park during or after a snowfall. I did that last in 2015 where I grabbed some gorgeous shots of freshly fallen and still falling snow. Hopefully, I will be able to do this again this year and visit during the rest of the year with more determination in 2020.
6. Crafting reboot. I had hoped to do more sewing, but I did a lot of jewelry and crochet in 2019, even if it wasn’t for the shop. I’d like to focus more on the sewing to put my fabric stash to good use. Already excited!
7. Destash more systematically. I’ve already started identifying the books. My closet is a continuing project. But I think I’m making progress because I’ve started parting with the shoes!
8. Work on the Gift of 54. This tends to creep up on me and I really need to get ahead of it, so I will start working on this the first month of the year, leaving me 4 months to the big 5-4 in April.
9. Write more. I started drafting three posts on New Year’s Day so I think I’m inspired. I believe it’s really about keeping it going for the rest of the year. I’m pretty happy where I landed in 2019 although my writing was in stops and starts. This time around, a post a week should be manageable, aiming for 4 a month, and hoping to do even better. I start the year with 10 possible topics with IG title graphics ready. Three of the 10 are scheduled for posting. I’m on track for a good start of the year! (Yay!)
10. Keep snail mail alive by writing a letter or sending out a card at least once a month. It was very gratifying and rewarding for me in 2019. I am going to keep this going in 2020. I already have three letters I’m trying to write after writing twice that number in the last part of 2019. (Yay!)
11. Rebind my art journal, begin a new one. Currently working on this. It’s right there.. and I am vowing to do a reveal video. I will rebind it myself if I have to. As for the new one in the works, I have two projects in mind, going the junk journal route. Excited about this.
12. Sample something new or visit a new restaurant or place (i.e., museum, intallation, etc.) and write about it. Visiting the newly renovated Museum of Modern Art is on my list.. sitting in a cafe is another.. I have actually managed to do this in my social media accounts but I need to do this here as well and write about the experience with more purpose and depth. One a month.
13. Publish a postcard set. I think I need help with this and will seek the advice and services of a friend who is in the business of publishing and hopefully get a set done. I have the photographs!
14. Visit at least one lighthouse. I know which one I want to visit and had made plans in late 2019 but it didn’t quite work out.. I will rework the plans and make it happen soon.
15. Encode my poetry. Maybe.
16. Visit more blogs / IG accounts. I joined “Medium” a few months back, and although I haven’t written anything in that forum, I have enjoyed reading others who REALLY write with purpose, and who intimidate me into my corner by their writing. It’s always a good read — and I’m just afraid that if I start writing there, I might actually lose focus here. So, yes, reading other people more — and it’s been a fun journey.
17. Do a fundraiser for Barangay San Vicente. My mother hails from a very poor community in Sorsogon in the province of Bicol. x x x I want to be able to do a fundraiser for the young children there in time for the school opening. If not, for the Christmas season when my mom used to do a gift giving celebration for the young kids.” Again, this just needs a project plan to make execution a snap. I actually got to visit Barangay San Vicente in July 2019 after my mother fearlessly declared she wasn’t coming to Manila even if my son and I were arriving. (And of course, in the end she did.) It was quite the trip to get there and back — and a lot has changed in the 20 plus years since I was last there. I’d still like to do the fundraiser — and maybe return. For 2020 then, and into 2021.
18. Watch a live show or concert once a quarter. Another miss. I actually enjoyed hitting rush tickets and just need to plan more. Just leaving this to-do here is obviously not working. budget and time-wise.
19. Undertake some home improvement projects. Christmas saw me getting rid of Small appliances I had absolutely no use for. Sometimes I can’t believe why I left them lying around gathering dust when I had absolutely no use for them. I am going to devote one hour a week to do serious redecorating, whether it’s just clearing stuff out or rearranging things. I was hoping to redecorate in 2019 but I worked on more pressing matters and postponed. Organizing my clutter is priority and I think I’m making progress in that regard.
20. Rework the Etsy shop. Upon Etsy’s prodding, I’ve now switched to free shipping to anywhere in the US, and I’m going through my inventory and taking out the pieces that are just way too cheap to be profitable to be on the shop. One hour every week on this. I’ve made a definite effort to start organizing for starters, labeling and putting like materials together. The goal is to devote one weekend to creating pieces and updating the site.
So there goes my list for 2020, and here I am, hopes high. I am grateful for another year with the sun shining in my corner of the world. I have a lot to be thankful for in 2019, but then again, that’s another post altogether.
Pinay New Yorker 