Resolved

At the beginning of every transition in my life (semester/break) I make a long plan outlining and scheduling my goals for the next few months.  They're well intentioned, but honestly, they rarely last more than a few weeks. Most people know how to quit what isn't working---in fact, we're hardwired to. It's called classical conditioning. Even rats learn that way.

Not me.
I am as resolved as ever to plan and budget my life out. Here are a few of my thoughts:

30 Day Creativity Bootcamp: 
I was reading my friend Lydia's blog over the summer, and one of the things she said jumped out at me.
The pursuit of art at some point requires a withdrawal from people.
Never were words more aptly spoken. I have gaps of years between my completed works, and often the time when I spent the most time on my art I was in the loneliest phases of my life. If I have to choose between being with people and working on art, I will choose people every time.
this Narnia
(where you meet the real Aslan)
not this Narnia

One of my sweetest memories from my roommates was when Meesh, Jules, and I prayed for one another in Narnia. I remember that Michelle prayed that I would take time to be the person God has created me to be and have time to pursue the passions that He has given me.  One of them is people, but artistic expression has always been one of the most important aspects of my person---I've just lost the time to participate in it somewhere along the line.

I recently stumbled across the blog of an artist who is designing a course to remedy that exact issue. I'm sure it's going to be marvelous, and I'm flirting with buying a subscription to it as I am sure that it would be well worth it. But I decided to try making my own Creativity Bootcamp.

Therefore, 
Resoluition #1: I am resolved to spend thirty (hopefully consecutive) days creating a habit of writing, drawing, photographing creatively at least once a day. 
Sounds easy enough...

Get Organized (finally?)

They say that every minute planning will save you ten minutes down the road.

No more!
I've saved myself TONS of time then, because I've been planning things compulsively for years. The problem is that I'm a spontaneous free spirit that doesn't like to follow anyone's rules, not even my own.  I also tend to lose my lists in the piles of my other lists.

Over the past few years though, things have been changing. I have grown to need beauty and order and will actually do something about it (hence, my random day-long cleaning sessions). I also have realized that streamlining some different aspects of my life will give me the time and discipline to pursue writing/artwork/etc seriously. So this year is the year for the plan. 

One of my absolute favorite blogs that I have been perusing recently is Deliciously Organized. This woman is a pro, and she has thoroughly convinced me that...
Resolution #2: It's time for me to get serious and make a Home Organizational Binder
I am PUMPED.

Here's the list of some fun stuff I have found while looking for material to put in my binder:
The Organizational Binder will help me tackle a few other random resolutions as well... which brings me to:

Miscellaneous Resolutions!
  • Complete a thoroughly revised and edited written work. (No, seriously)
  • Figure out what I am doing after May... before May gets here.
  • Create a Narnia in the place that I live post-DRJ house (and everywhere I live for the rest of my life).
  • Get my finances in top shape so I can give more. BINDER
  • Take up running again so I can look like Regina King. BINDER/Angela?
  • Look like a grown up, and maybe act like one once in a while.
  • Pack my lunches BINDER
  • Have a regular, grown-up sleep schedule... not college-student-up-til-2 am schedule. BINDER

What are YOUR resolutions? Have you ever had any success in keeping past resolutions? I would actually like to know.

2 comments:

  1. First, I have no read this whole blog yet.
    1. IS THAT SARAH IN THE FORT YALL MADE!?!?!
    2. DO NOT WITHDRAW FROM THE GLADIES DURING THE 30 DAYS IN THE DESERT!
    3. I actually almost wrote about why New years resolution always fail based on what I learned in school.

    back to reading

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  2. YAY TO TAKING UP RUNNING AND PACKING YOUR LUNCHES AND SLEEPING NORMALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    See my blog for my resolution. I have never kept my resolutions for longer than a month. Encouraging, I know. So my real resolution? Not think of them as a New Year's resolution and consider it discipline.

    ReplyDelete