So, some of my long-time readers/listeners may be wondering: What happened to Sandy’s annual Quilty Resolutions challenge? For those of you who are new (are there any?), I’m big on goal-setting in my own life and, ever since I started my podcast so many years ago now (2010, if I recall), I did an annual Quilty Resolutions challenge and giveaway in which I’d give some criteria and invite everyone to set their goals based on that criteria, and then I’d draw a random name and do a giveaway. I also know I’d made some noise earlier in December about putting out a podcast episode, and I’d thought it would probably be my annual resolutions challenge.
With apologies, that just all feels a bit beyond me right now.
2017 has been a heck of a year for me and has sort of wiped me out. To be honest, I’m a bit existentially tired. Right now, my own goals for 2018 are simple: heal my foot, graduate, and get some semblance of a personal life back. As far as a quilting goal goes, I just want to actually get back on my sewing machine in some sort of a regular basis, but what that means really remains to be seen. I have a lot of variables in my life over the next several months and the only thing I can do is just take it one week, sometimes even just one day, at a time.
Later today I’ll be setting up the next blank notebook in my bullet journal series to take me through the first quarter of 2018. Normally, I start the new year all gung-ho with mindmaps and areas of focus and very concrete things I want to accomplish. I’ve gotten very good at SMART goals and setting up action plans and, most of the time, do pretty well at achieving what I set out to do. This year, right now, I’m feeling a bit on hold. I’ve taken a couple of stabs at doing mindmaps for 2018 this week, but I’m finding that there’s a voice in my head saying, “Just wait. Give yourself some space.” I was focused for so long on school that, now that it’s drawing to a close, I’m having difficulty focusing on what might be next. So I’m waiting. And giving myself space.
I do have a word in mind for 2018, though. This year, the word “Purpose” has been stuck in my head. I’m still pondering why that word might be there. I haven’t fully sussed it out yet, but I’m pondering while I have one foot propped up with an ice pack and can’t go anywhere anyway.
I am curious, though—what goals do you have? What words are you focusing on? No challenges or giveaways...just conversation.