I will

All in all, I'm disinclined to make new year's resolutions.  I used to make them, year after year, and by the end of January, they would have fizzled.  Some years, I would take great care to write them out -- with very exact penmanship -- thinking this would somehow make them more likely to get accomplished.  Well, a few years back, I took a Franklin Covey class.  As part of that class, you are supposed to look at your values, goals, and roles (partner, student, professional, etc).  For each value, you then write a clarifying statement and it is really stressed that these be written as positive statements -- not "I would like to be a happy person" but "I am a happy person."  Another part of the class is to realize that it's important to make time for yourself; that all the other goals/roles/aspirations of your life will not get accomplished if you devote all your energies to others and none to yourself.  In that context, then, I began to re-think resolutions. 

For the past couple years, over the course of a couple of weeks, I think and write down what I call my "I will" list.  I read this about once a week and it helps me refocus on what is important to me.  For example, last year I said, "I will eat organic and local whenever possible" and I'm happy to say that I've spent more time at our farmer's market this past year than ever before.  Of course, it's not a recipe for 100% success and there are some things that I didn't do as much with as I'd hoped.  I know that some of you may be thinking, "that sure sounds like a resolutions list but by a different name."  And, perhaps it is, but it works for me.  I think mostly because I look at it often and it's written in positive terms instead of highlighting things that need/want to be changed.  Envision who you want be.

As I work on this year's list, I know one thing that I plan to put on there involves knitting.  After all, this is supposed to be a knitting blog.  Last year I tried, but was not successful, in knitting a project a month.  This year, I'm going to try again, but I think that I'll use this here space to evolve that attempt.  I have been thinking for several weeks about what I would like to knit in this coming year.  It will be too boring to be too specific and then in December to be tied to a project chosen in January.  After all, there are foreign trips, Stitches West, and dozens of as-yet unpublished patterns between now and then!  I am thinking that I will alternate hard and easy projects so that I can "catch up" in some months.  I don't think I will count 1-2 day projects as that seems like a cop-out -- look!! 12 stockinette wristwarmers for toddlers, mission accomplished!  I would like to learn a new skill or two -- including colorwork/fair isling/intarsia.  The lead up to that project may be to truly understand the differences between those three terms.

Anyway, if you're interested, come back in the next couple days to check it out.  Until then, look at all the wonderful yarn I got for Christmas.  My friends and family really understand me:

 

My final thoughts:

* I really do need to clean up a little before I take these pictures.

** This armful includes: Berrocco Seduce (3), Oregon handspun (2), Farmhouse Yarns bulky (6), and Ruby Sapphire sock yarn (1).

Comments

[heather]

this reminds me i should take a pic of the yarn i got for christmas before i wind them all into cakes :D

[Rachel]

Even though I don't necessarily make resolutions at the beginning of the year (mine are sort of general goals that I constantly strive for no matter the day), I like this idea. It always helps to face things in a positive manner...why not resolutions/goals? I look forward to seeing what you come up with...both in general and with your knitting goals (by the way, add in 'mosaic' knitting to the group of terms...I'm just now finally understanding all the differences myself!). And I wish you the best in achieving all that you want to achieve in this new year!

Finally...you look very happy with your yarn as you should be...but I have to know where I can find some of that luscious bulky yarn you have (the blue and rust I think)...it's gorgeous and I've got 2 or 3 projects in the queue that need bulky yarn. :)

[nova]

Oh, yay! But now that I see that I am not terribly original, I must come up with something else to gift you with in future.