How did it go with your word of the year?
2021 is nearly over. Did your word make a difference?
Remember back in January, when we were so looking forward to this COVID thing being over and I posted a blog about choosing a word for the year? Remember, I chose “complete.”
What did you choose? Do you think about it every now and then and try to put that word in action in your life?
I actually made a poster with the word written on it, and every time I completed something, I put a sticker on it. It’s a visual representation of what I wanted my 2021 to be – a year of finishing things.
Looks Are Deceiving
It looks like I’ve done a lot, and I have. But not as much as I wanted. I’d hoped to have at least half my UFOs (unfinished objects) knitted or crocheted by now. I think I’ve finished two. I have started several others though. That makes a negative finish-to-start ratio as far as my yarn projects go.
I have finished reading several books, and I’ve finally read through all the magazines I subscribe to. I had a pile of about a dozen magazines that I just couldn’t get rid of because I hadn’t looked at them yet. Cross that off my list.
Whether I finished those projects or not wasn’t really the goal. I wanted to look back on 2021 and be able to point to the things I’d accomplished. See, there’s that scarf I started to knit in 2015. It’s done and I’ve been able to give it away. See that pile of magazines in the recycling bin? I finally read them, gleaned what I wanted from them, and got rid of them. Yay!
A Difficult Task
Probably the biggest accomplishment I have yet to achieve is to finish writing the book I started in September 2020. I got such a great start to it and kept the momentum going during November’s 2020 National Novel Writing Month. But since then, I haven’t done squat.
One of the main characters is loosely based on my son, Evan, who died about 6 months ago. I can’t seem to allow myself to imagine what this character is thinking and figuring out how he’ll communicate with the other characters.
But I had an experience recently that may seem a bit woo-woo. I participated in a program about writing through grief and loss. During one of the exercises, I swear I heard Evan talking to me. He told me he was happy, that he wished I wasn’t so sad and that he’d like me to start working on his story again.
So, that story has been added back into my list of things to finish. Along with the two other books I started during this year’s NaNoWriMo, the freelance jobs I need to complete, marketing my freelance business, completing several online courses, finishing the several books I’ve started reading, and finishing my boatload of UFOs.
Why is Evan’s book so difficult for me?
Maybe I’m afraid the story I’ve described to so many people will turn out to be crap when I actually type “The End.” That’s the inner critic, my personal lizard brain, talking. I’ve been able to tell that reptile (remember, her name is Persephone?) to go fly a kite with some things, but this book is something different.
Or is it?
Just Another Goal
It’s a goal – just like finally lining all those bags I’ve knitted and crocheted is a goal. The book isn’t a far-out goal. It’s definitely doable. Why am I putting so much pressure on myself that it be perfect? I tell other writers all the time that a first draft is terrible. It’s supposed to be. It’s the first draft. Why do I feel like my first draft needs to be perfect?
This gets back to something I’ve written about before – perfectionism. It doesn’t exist. I am letting the “Perfect” get in the way of writing something good. And I don’t want to live my life like that anymore.
What about you? What have you been meaning to do, but just haven’t chosen to focus on yet? Have you chosen your word for 2022? Have you ever chosen a word to live by for a year?
When I was first introduced to the idea, I thought it was ridiculous. Now, after having done it for the past two years, I realize how powerful that choice can be. Go ahead and make some goals for yourself. Then break them down into smaller bits.
Break It Down
That’s what Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington write about in “The 12-week Year.” So often, we make a 12-month goal and then don’t think about it again until the 11th month. By then, the time has gotten so far away from us that it’s nearly impossible to succeed. Then we tell ourselves we aren’t good at making and achieving goals.
Instead, make a 12-week goal. Three months. Here’s an example: By the end of 12 weeks, I want to have completed six of the bags I have started knitting or crocheting. That means I need to complete one bag every two weeks. That means, I need to finish the actual construction of the bag within the first week, and then in the second week, I’ll line it and put any other finishing touches on it.
Big goal, broken down into doable parts. If I get to the end of week one and haven’t finished knitting or crocheting the bag I’ve chosen, I know I’m behind. But not so far that I can’t catch up. I know exactly where I stand, and I have plenty of time to adjust what needs to be done so I can accomplish the goal.
And, if for some reason, it doesn’t happen, I can look back and decide why and how I can make it happen in the future.
Don’t count yourself out before you’ve even started counting. Set yourself up for success. In the past, it seems I have habitually set myself up for failure. No more.
Why don’t you share your goals or word for 2022 with me? We can help keep each other accountable. Just email me at susie@stix-n-stonez.com
Until next week,
Susie
P.S. – Looking for continual support and a community of like-minded people who just want to figure out how to get through the day? Why not join the Stix-N-Stonez Facebook group? I try to post positive memes at least twice a day. Members are encouraged to share their positive messages and to offer support to each other. We’d love to have you join us.