There are things on my list that intimidate me. There are things on my list that seems like no big deal when I first thought of them. There are things on my list that I'm just not sure how to accomplish.
I actually started looking at my list and realized that one third of my goals are things that it's starting to look like just might not happen. Some of them require money, which is always just a little short around here. Some require a schedule, and with my unpredictable hours, I haven't figured out how to do this. Most just require free time, which is my most precious commodity and has been spent running around the backyard, being chased by squirt guns.
Here are the things that have me worried:
3. Get my passport. Who knew a passport could be so expensive? And since I don't have any passport requiring trips planned in my near future, it's hard to justify the cost.
10. Paint at least once. This one shouldn't be so hard. But it requires the thought to actually occur to me. It's been such a long time since I've painted anything that pulling out a canvas and actually creating something does not come up on the radar of how to spend an afternoon.
14. Find 3 ways to be green. This one has me stumped. We do our best to be green. We fanatically recycle. We use reusable shopping bags. We eat local as much as we can (afford.) That would be three things right there. But we've been doing those things for a long time. The idea of this goal was to find three new things. Any ideas? Well, any ideas that don't break the bank and require the installation of solar panels, the purchase of an electric car, or raising all my food myself?
15. Use my crock pot once a month. I'm struggling with this one this year. Last year wasn't so bad. This year? I've taken the crock pot out twice. It requires advance planning, which I practically never do for meals. I just need to do it, and stop making excuses.
16. Catch up on my book reviews. This just requires time and inspiration. Hopefully, I'll get to it. Although lately, I've read quite a few books that I just don't feel like reviewing.
23. Go to the doctor and get my hand looked at. This started out being easy. I made an appointment, I got my hand looked at. And then they wanted me to see physical therapy. They wanted me to see rheumatology. They wanted me to make several follow up appointments. I'm not sure this is going to happen.
26. Donate blood. I just need to find the time.
28. Work on my kids' baby books at least once. My poor kids. Monkey's baby book doesn't even have the plastic wrapping removed from it.
30. Start looking at jobs. This one just intimidates me. I think about it, and I get all sweaty with the thought of rejection and failure and what if no one wants to work with me, and what if I'm not competent enough to get a job. Hopefully this fall/winter, I'll be able to get over all that and start this process.
35. Take my children to 3 different museums. I'm still looking for two more museums that are in reasonable driving distance.
38. Schedule date night with Hubster at least once a month. This one always feels like my biggest failure. I know so many people that have date night once a week, and Hubster and I can't manage once a month. We've gone on two, maybe three dates this year. We had all these plans to do date night at home. So far, that has consisted of me mentioning it, and then promptly falling asleep on the couch. I really need to look at this and figure out how to make this happen. Once again, any ideas?
39. Get a better sleep schedule. Ha, ha. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
40. Scan my wedding pictures into my computer. I should have just planned better and gotten married in the time of digital photos. Or time travel back with a digital camera. That serious might be just as easy.
41. Take a multivitamin daily. I realize now that any daily goal is a huge mistake.
42. Look into getting a pet with fur. This is not going to happen. No matter how much fun I think it would be to have a kitten or a puppy, I need to be realistic. We have two boys. And a fish.
49. Get our home videos transferred to DVD. What we should have done is bought a digital video camera all those years ago.
50. Organize my children's boxes of art work. I've transferred it from one box to a different box. But it just doesn't quite feel like it should count.
52. Get my hair done. Right now, I'd settle for brushing my hair. That would be a step in the right direction.
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These aren't impossible things. They are all reasonable, manageable goals. It's not like I resolved to visit three different countries and speak for a national charity. These should be things I can accomplish by the time December is finishing up.
I just need to refocus, reorganize, and recommit.
And figure out the whole time travel thing.
Maybe collect pop can tabs for people that need them for dialysis. Or schedule a clean up at the local elementary school? Compost pile or reduce water usage in toilets by putting a water bottle thing in them. Just some suggestions. I don't know I think you're doing enough, and teaching your kids to be environmentally friendly as well. And I'm the opposite of you with my wedding pictures. I have printed one which was a gift for our in laws. The rest stay on our computer.
ReplyDeleteI definitely understand about the job, but your qualified, smart, and have a great personality. You earned yourself a right to be a little picky about where you work. I've been thinking of leaving my job for some time. But just am a intimidated. But I have no skills like yours.
I've think you've done pretty well, I'm lucky if my goals even get written done let alone thought about again.
I feel ya on #39. I think about going to bed at 1 am. Next thing I know, it's 3 am...and I still don't go to bed.
ReplyDeletePassports are expensive! I thought I was going to go to Canada on a whim so I had to pay extra to get my passport in time. I didn't get to go. Now I have to find a reason to leave the country this year because I paid too much not to leave!
ReplyDeleteI think you're okay on some of these. Like, get your hand looked at. You didn't say anything about getting it fixed. Just getting it looked at. Same with looking into getting a pet with fur. That didn't obligate you to actually make the commitment of getting one.
ReplyDeleteYou're doing well at living a good life. If you have obligated yourself to goals, pick just one. Once you check it off you'll be on your way to success. However if it eases the stress here are some ideas:
ReplyDelete*Get your hair done. That's one you can just check off.
*Let the boys make a page for their baby book. Now it has been worked on at least once! That is what you are doing with all their art anyway.
*Pet with fur. Stripey and Dog. If you need a new stuffed animal, get one.
*Put the multivitamins in your purse, if you stop to eat, you can take them, if not your were of course too busy anyway!
*Your hand needs help sooner than later and just schedule in the rheumatologist. Follow his advice. Your career probably depends on it. So does your home life.
*You WILL get a job, so take your time. Put it on the calendar for a date night and work on the plan together for moral support.
*You have done date night. Date night has been: your bike rides, your walks, S'mores, your trips to the library, cookies, the tulip festival, etc.... obviously time ALL together is most important to all of you. Count it for date night and put your "get away's" on the schedule two or three times in the year, just like you are doing.
*Planting is green. The new thing might be planting something in your garden.. you're working on that. One, two, three new plants, check! Talk to your brother about organic gardening to ease your conscience. LIstening is sufficient. If you like it you've added more than three things right there.
*Idea: Write three meals say stew, soup and curry and put the date on your calendar for your crock pot. That takes care of three months.
Sometime:
*Get one small stack of photos from your wedding and ask if Hubster could scan them sometime today, delegating might help.See if he'd like to show Roman how and add an extra pair of hands to the job.
*Put the passport on a waiting list for a future important time.
There are, of course, more things on your list. Trade the passport for one more item label: put less things on your lest. Check it off. Checking things off a list makes you feel like you are not stagnant and that you are moving in the right direction. Perhaps a later list might start with all the things you DO. That a pretty big list and you can itemize it and check it off, feel better, If that doesn't meet the need adding one two or three things a year might do it.
I'm to easily caught in the doldrums if I don't accomplish a list of goals. IF I make a list it is for a day, maybe a week. Then I have to take a break because the list becomes another thing I have to accomplish or I'm not accomplished enough, or I'm not consistent if I can't do everything. Maybe we could trade lists and I can check off yours and visa versa!