(Does anyone else combine church and Star Wars in their minds today?)
“May the fourth be with you.”
“And also with you.”
“Let us rise and pass the fourth.”
That’s not really what I’m blogging about today, though. It’s time to check in on my goals.
The thing about writing a bunch of goals at the beginning of the year is that it’s like predicting the future. And I’m not so good at that.
I’ve fallen behind on almost all of my goals this year, but I’m actually not upset about it. In general. There are a few that I need to get cracking on. So, below, I’ve got my original Dream, my progress, and, if necessary, a revised plan. Because I do think the goals are necessary and they help me make day-to-day decisions and prioritize. But I don’t think they should be a source of stress, and if I still to the original ones, I will be stressed, I’ll put out less-than-stellar work, and completely miss the point of goals in the first place.
Removing goal as it can’t be tracked.
Dream |
Progress as of May 4, 2015 |
Revised Plan |
| Publish another book | Waiting on grant application to continue work on Home. Clouded has been through beta readers and needs a ton of work. The Cast is currently being drafted. | No revision. Will continue to work on all three books. |
| “Do” two short stories a month (one drafted, one completed) | No new progress | Removing this goal entirely. I am not interested in short stories and working on them takes time away from working on projects that I both enjoy more and am better at. More power to the short story writers of the world. I will admire you, but I am not one of you. |
| Publish at least four short stories | see above | Remove |
| Draft two more novels | 1 done, 1 in progress | No revision necessary. Unless I decide to add a third. |
| Read at least 96 books | Oh geez. This is one that I need a swift kick in the pants with. I’ve finished 20. | 2 books a week is too many for me. So, I’m revising it down to 78 (1.5 per week.) Even with this, I’m 10 behind. But I’ll make it. Summer is coming. |
| Complete 12 new paintings | 3 done, will do another this week and get back on course | No update. Just motivation. |
| Get Spiraling Forward Jewelry into 3-5 boutiques | You can now buy Spiraling Forward at Doodle Bird! | Remove goal. I am shifting focus away from the jewelry completely. I don’t have time to focus on it, and I’d rather just make stuff I want to wear when I want to wear it. |
| Have/be in an art show | No progress other than painting | I’m not removing this, but I don’t feel like it’s an important goal at this time and I’m not focusing on it. |
| 15-20 gym visits/month | Averaging 15.25! | Not changing goal, but changing execution. I’m counting bike rides of 6+ miles or walking/running 2.5+ miles. The goal is fitness, not time inside. |
| 4+ yoga/Pilates classes/month | Hit | I’ve been hitting 2-3 a week, so no revision necessary. |
| One vegetarian day/week | It’s happening, although maybe not all day. It might be lunch one day and dinner another. | Changing to 3 vegetarian meals per week. |
| Speak at 2 conferences | 1 Scheduled. | This isn’t a focus for me, I’m removing it. |
| Continue to reduce clutter | This goal is not written in a measurable way, but I’d say it’s going well. | Removing. It’s not trackable, but we’ve been doing really good with it and I don’t need a monthly reminder. |
| 1 artist date | Didn’t happen in April | No revision, it’s important and I need to make it a priority. |
| Attend 2 book/writing events | 3 days of AWP! | Keep as is. |
| 1 real date with hubby | Hooray for Parent’s Night Out! | I’ve been thinking about revising to two, but we’re having a hard time getting sitters. |
| 1 art event | Nope | Removing. This is something I would love to do, but I don’t think is necessary to track. |
Yes, I have connected Star Wars to the Church and to Government and the policies that the U.S. follows worldwide. Is Star Wars a satire or a social commentary? Every time I watch it I try to figure out the message and find the connections. I love that sort of literature/movie/media. Thinking can be as entertaining as all the images and music that comes in the package. I believe that humans work in our imaginations to solve problems. Star Wars is very imaginative. Hopefully thinking about the issues that Star Wars presents will help us take better actions in the real world.
Pingback: Where did May go? | Amanda Michelle Moon