 |
| Image: Public Domain. Illustration by John Tenniel, Text by Lewis Carroll, Remix by mtcleroux |
My most recent post considered the benefits of giving oneself a "report card" for the year past before compiling anything resembling New Year's resolutions. Looking back at the past year provides a starting point for the year ahead, and gives something to build on. It also shows what is and isn't sustainable: lofty resolutions sound great but rarely last. Well, in this post I put all (or at least most of) my cards on the table with my own plans for the year ahead, based on the past year.
This year the priorities are less hierarchical, since a few things will be important. This time, though, I will list the current situation and what I am aspiring to. The details of my life are really not all that fascinating to anyone who isn't a grossly misguided stalker with bad taste, so feel free to read only the headings. Really. The real point is this: the "resolutions" in themselves are not as important as their evolution in relation to the past, developing a feasible strategy to make them happen and simply putting them down as a point of reference (yes, the process repeats itself each year!). So here are my little plans and schemes. Like I said, stick to the headings unless you enjoy soap opera: my current situation is trรจs Days Of Our Lives.
Family (A- in 2011)
Making family a priority was a HUGE adjustment for a self-confessed hermit like me. In the middle of 2011 I swallowed my ego whole and moved in with my grandparents, who were struggling with health issues, administration and a vast household to manage. In December, as I was preparing to move on, my brother was severely injured in a car accident and entered a coma from which he is beginning to emerge after several weeks. There are always choices, and I chose to stay on until things are settled, and perhaps longer. I won't deny that a double family crisis is a major challenge, but my conviction that this is all for a purpose is rock solid, overriding emotional responses and logistical concerns. This year family remains a priority, but I would like to increase my practical usefulness to the people who share my DNA and work on deepening relationships with them.
Community: B in 2011
Much of my community activity this year will be related to family and work. One microcommunity I intend to continue serving is the staff working in "our" household, who are ready for upskilling, and some even for whole new work opportunities which I can facilitate. As to the broader community, I plan to reach them with much of the publication and presentation work I will be doing this year. More about that in the Career section, coming up....
Wellbeing: D in 2011
This area was totally not on target in 2011. Not only did living with people mean compromising my nutritional principles, but after falling off the relocation wagon as far as movement goes, I never got on again (perhaps because I barely moved at all between July and December). R&R also gave way to bad habits rather than squeaky-clean ones. The results (feeling blah and probably looking it if I had the courage to check the mirror) spoke for themselves. My 2012 strategy is one of moderation: though I have to cater to the culinary whims of others, I can insidiously ensure that at least what is on my plate does me good. Rather than give up the day's exercise because I have planned too much, I am starting each day with half an hour of realistic movement and strength training that doesn't scare me enough to hit the snooze button in stead. And I promise myself lots of wholesome R&R, both in short breaks between the day's tasks, in the evenings and at weekends. Working within the realm of the attainable is much better than failing at the impossible.
Career: B- in 2011
Although the first half of 2011 was satisfactory career-wise, I completely tanked the moment I became a houseekeeper/nurse/neurotic control freak/granddaughter. I had had no idea how much time, energy and boundless patience my task would take, and found that when the work was finally done I was barely capable of staring at the ceiling. The lack of identity I felt without outside work was devastating. Since I will still be here for some time under very taxing conditions, work is vital to my sanity. Rather than formal employment, which is ruled out by my "patients"' routines, I have taken on a project that thrills and terrifies me. The Living Learning Group is an educational consultancy that offers tuition, training and presentations to encourage self-directed learning (with a major project or two up its sleeve...). Representing the business, I am also contributing educational and opinion pieces addressing education and training to the local media. This work, in addition to learning the ropes of small business, has all the makings of high adventure, and it has me in welcome overdrive. My career goal for the year is to make the very most of this experiment and see where it takes me. In this field, too, I am more interested in being flexible and contented than perfect. (Am I losing my edge ;)?).
Finance: B- in 2011
The fact that I am still well afloat after six months without an income makes last year's finance a reasonable success. I also diligently set up a number of new financial projects to provide medium-term funds, a bit of a parachute and even a credit reference. Though I didn't spend outrageously, though, I was hardly frugal. This year my initial goal is to break even in the first months of the new business, but look at moving forward well before the end of the year. With strategic projects that really make a difference to all stakeholders, this can be done.
Enjoyment: C in 2011
A respectable amount of good fun with wonderful people in the first half of the year was drowned in the sheer Kafkaesque grip of reality by mid-year. Oddly, as small problems have given way to ones too vast to contemplate, I am feeling much happier and squeezing more enjoyment out of things. Perhaps it is the close confrontation with death that makes the most ridiculous little things in life seem more precious. In 2012, rather than chasing momentous pleasures, I am contented with, and infinitely grateful for, the little ones.
Blogging certainly is one of them. Have a spectacular 2012.
