A Year for Trying

Original Artwork By Alex

Disclaimer:  My Blogger Profile states I reserve the right to 'the occasional rant.'  Consider the following post, 'an occasion.'

With the holiday hullabaloo over, I've done some reflecting and realized 2010 was a pretty crazy year for me.  It was a year of ups and downs.  One very big UP was starting this blog, which began in February (yep, my Blogiversary is coming up).  I've made so many friends here it's amazing.  I've also discovered a medium that makes me feel like a real artist...mixed media.  I've had such a blast creating the ATCs, the Paper Dresses, and now the Purses.   One very big 2010 DOWN was not accomplishing a very big career goal I had set for myself.   That upset came in May.  It was personally devastating to me and honestly, I've had a difficult time moving past it, but that's a story for another post.  There have been other ups and downs, too.  I've accomplished personal goals, including staying a "quitter" (from smoking), which is a daily struggle and keeping the 35+ pounds off that I put on after quitting!  I've also experienced some medical lows, including a kidney stone the size of Jupiter in  June and a high blood pressure diagnosis a few months ago.  Have I mentioned I have a screw loose?  Yeah, literally, the screw holding the ACL graft together in my knee is loose.  Perfect, huh?

I think everyone reflects on their accomplishments and their failures from the previous year in order to resolve to do a, b, and c, the next year.  Well, I've decided not to commit to any New Year's Resolutions this year.  No, not because I am perfect and don't need to change.  No, quite the opposite.  I am not committing to resolutions, but, instead, I am going to dedicate 2011 to "going to try really hards."  You might say this is symantics, but I don't have a great history of accomplishing the resolutions I've set for myself in past years, so why not give this a go?  With all this said, in 2011,  I am Going to Try Really Hard To: 

1. Stick to my low salt diet (still YUK; diet includes cutting down on the bad stuff ie salt, fat, sweets, etc)
2. Be a better sister, relative, friend, influding blogger friend, wife, and mother (this includes remembering birthdays, anniversaries, and then sending appropriate greetings/presents for said, etc.)
3. Get desk space organized and keep it so I DO NOT loose addresses!!
4. Go to church more (this category includes cursing less, being more patient, being kinder, less judgemental, and generally a better Christian)
5. Change attitude at work, even if this means changing jobs.  Stop complaining and actually commit to change it if I really believe 'the grass is greener' somewhere else.  In other words, shi* or get off the pot (as my mother would have said).  
6. Open my Etsy store.  Big goal here...hopefully will coincide with my Blogiversary...which is in February!!!  WooHoo! 
7. Pay off credit card(s).  No brainer here.  I paid off my car in June (another WooHoo), now onto other financial goals, including the credit cards!  Maybe some garage sales this spring???  2010, you know, saw my first ever garage sale!
8. Be more appreciative. 
9. Don't get freaky over every little thing...this includes stupid drivers, walkers, people selling stuff outside Walmart..stop avoiding them by walking to the side entrances...in December this category will include the bell ringers.  I know it's just plain wrong to travel out of the way to avoid them or worse yet, feel like shanking them just to get them out of the way.  Refer to "Try Hard" #4 here.
10. Spend more time with my family.  This includes actually going camping, canoeing, and yes, fishing.  no excuses this year! 
11. Sew more things for ME (and don't feel guilty about it).
12. Write more sewing tutorials.  Write more personally.
13. Read more.  Write the book I started last year.  (Another big goal here).

Thanks for taking the time to read this post.  I hope you have taken the time to reflect on your 2011 goals.  I feel like since I 've now written them down, I am accountable.  Right?  I'm confident #4 will be the hardest...just being honest.

I want to thank those participating in January's Dress Up.  The dresses are amazing and it is still early in the month!  I can't wait to see more!  If you want to join in, there is time.  Just read the details HERE.  I can't tell you how excited I am to announce the artist for February's Dress Up!  I am putting a post together with the details and will post it really soon!

Do you like the image at the beginning of this post?  It's a collage my daughter made for me for Christmas.  I adore it.  I love everything about it.  I've hung it on the wall as one enters my studio..note the writing in the upper right...."House of Calm."  Love it!  Thanks Alex.  I love you, too.

Toodles,

Angela